WWE nXt Results

April 18, 2018

Full Sail University, Orlando, FL
Commentary by Mauro Ranallo and Percy Watson

Opening Segment
The show begins with Candice LeRae and her husband, the victorious Johnny Gargano, and they bask in the cheers of FSU, following Takeover: New Orleans. As Ranallo says, he exorcised the demon that was Tommaso Ciampa and he’s back on the nXt roster.

Gargano says he’s really glad to be home. He was defined by Ciampa for too long. He broke his heart by costing him the nXt Championship and stealing his career. After 37 of the most intense minutes he’s ever spent in a professional wrestling ring, he’s standing here proudly and he’s back where he belongs.

This prompts a “Johnny Wrestling” chant from the crowd.

It’s been a tough few months, but the crowd’s signs and chants supported him through it. He then turns to his wife, Candice, and says he couldn’t have done this without her. They embrace.

Gargano says enough of the mushy stuff! Johnny and Candice Wrestling have one last piece of unfinished business. Candice takes the mic and says tonight she’ll be handling that against Zelina Vega!

If Almas tries to get involved, Gargano will drop him like Ciampa. After that, there’s one more place for him to go. We have a new nXt Champion and you’re looking at his first challenger. I’m Johnny Wrestling and we…are…N…X…T!

Coming Up: Ricochet will be in action, along with Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dain in a No DQ Match

Second Segment

Outside FSU, it’s Killian Dain saying he’s gonna take everything from Lars tonight! Dain brings the chaos alone to him!

Singles Match: Ricochet vs. Fabian Aichner
Great ovation for Ricochet in his Full Sail debut.

Congrats to Nigel McGuinness and his significant other for the birth of their baby boy. Nigel’s home learning how to change diapers, says Ranallo.

Aichner lives by three rules: outwork everyone, take risks and seize the opportunity. Huge match for him.

Side headlock to begin. Ricochet showing off his tumbling and kip-ups early on. Sweet dropkick on Aichner. Crowd’s chanting his name again. A strong chop from Aichner stops that. Whip off the ropes. Ricochet jumps. Aichner catches him in fireman’s carry, across the shoulders…gutbuster!

Aichner stomps down Ricochet in the corner. Ricochet gets back to his feet, has his throw reversed and gets a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. 1-2- kickout. Aichner plants Ricochet into the mat and squeezes the mid-section. Ricochet elbows his way out of it.

Aichner maintains advantage. He goes for the powerbomb. Ricochet flips up and over the shoulders, but can’t do anything with it. Aichner whips him into turnbuckle and gets dropkicked off of his feet. Both men down.
Strong forearms by Ricochet. Running European uppercut to the head of Aichner. Springboard European uppercut! Standing shooting star press! 1-2- kickout. That was pretty.

Ricochet’s up on the top rope. Aichner drops him to his seat and attempts a superplex. Ricochet punches himself free. Slap to the face. Ricochet stands tall and…630 splash!!!
1-2-3!

Winner: Ricochet via pinfall in 5 minutes

Ricochet is interviewed post-match and talks about how he’s enjoyed watching some of the former nXt greats over the years. Now, it’s his turn to take things up a notch and make a name for himself. He wants to prove to the nXt universe there is one and only one Ricochet.

One cool point for the ease with which Ricochet leaps and bounds around the ring. That 630 splash is a thing of beauty. Aichner looked fine in the loss. We should see more of him, since the recent callups have opened up some opportunities for those that remain.

Last week, War Raiders invaded the tag team main event between Heavy Machinery and Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli. After the break, they’ll make their nXt in-ring debut.

We get a promo for the recently arrived ECIII, set to his brand new theme song.

Third Segment
Outside, at FSU, Lars Sullivan is shown, looking down at the camera, which captures him saying he can do whatever his mind comes up with in this No DQ match. Lars is a real life freak of nature!

Tag Team Match: War Raiders vs. J.C. and Chris
Hanson has the longest beard and Rowe has the shorter beard, for those who are still getting to know this world renown tag team.

J.C. and Chris are not to be confused with K-Ci and Jojo, according to Ranallo. Love that 90’s reference.

Running double knees by Rowe on J.C. to begin the match. Chris tags himself in to help his partner. Hip toss on Chris. Hanson slaps Rowe’s back and continues to deliver the punishment. Knee to stomach. Chris gets fire dup and slaps Hanson’s chest. Cartwheel by Hanson, followed by a clothesline from Hades!

Hanson tags in Rowe. Pop up powerslam! This is going to end quickly.

Rowe holds Chris sideways. Hanson’s up on the top turnbuckle….jumping leg drop! 1-2-3. Short match. Strong impact.
Winners: War Raiders via pinfall in 3 minutes

One cool point for War Raiders first win in nXt. They pick up where the Authors of Pain left off as a physically dominant team who impress with strength, agility and compelling double-team moves. Every team in that Tag Division should be concerned. Could be heading towards a championship match very soon, maybe in Brooklyn?

Earlier this week, at the WWE Performance Center, it’s Shayna Baszler, filming a video on her phone. She’s going to set some new rules as she shows up late for a meeting with the nXt Women’s roster. She interrupts Serena, rips off Ember Moon’s nameplate at her old locker, and puts up a Queen of Spades card instead. Baszler says that everyone should get in line or get out. Kai stands up to fill up her water bottle and Baszler intimidates her as she tries to leave. That’s a different look. Sure is a very, very different women’s roster since last year at this time.

Up Next: Killian Dain vs. Lars Sullivan in a No DQ match

Fourth Segment

Kona Reeves is returning in two weeks and he is the finest.
Earlier today, WWE.COM catches up with UK Champion Pete Dunne. He’s leaving for a few weeks but his thoughts on Roderick Strong will be seen when he gets his hands on him.

No DQ Match: Killian Dain vs. Lars Sullivan
Highlights of this match include the following:

Dain clotheslines Sullivan over the top rope and they start fighting on the outside pretty quickly. Dain reverses the Irish Whip and smashes Sullivan into the steel steps.

Sullivan with a massive suplex on Dain, on the floor! Ranallo says this is a chiropractor’s dream match! Ha!
Impressive German suplex by Sullivan on Dain, and Dain escapes by rolling to the floor. Sullivan’s up on the top rope! Flying clothesline and he comes down hard! “nXt” chants from the crowd, appreciating that high-risk manoeuvre.

Diving headbutt from the top gets a 2 count for Sullivan, and Dain is busted open, blood leaking from his nose. Sullivan finds the chairs underneath the ring and chucks three into the ring.
Dain musters up the energy to fight back with a front dropkick on Sullivan. The two behemoths trade right hands in the middle of the ring. Fireman’s carry slam, senton and Vader Bomb combo!!!! Dain pins Sullivan for a 2 count! Loved that combo.

Dain takes a look under the ring and finds…a table! He slides it in. He drives a chair into Sullivan’s side to keep him writhing in pain, so he can set up the table in the far right corner. Sullivan won’t let Dain throw him over there.

Sullivan places a chair on Dain’s chest…dives off the top rope and misses, hitting the chair with his head! Dain motions for Sullivan to get up. He flies at Sullivan, gets caught and powerslammed! 1 COUNT ONLY!
Bicycle kick by Dain. Flying crossbody INTO THE TABLE! Sullivan is trapped between two pieces of that table as the crowd chants “nXt”.

Dain wants to do his own top rope jumping, but Sullivan gets up with a chair. Dain punches the chair into Sullivan’s face. Dain can’t follow up. He gets powerslammed by Sullivan into a couple of chairs, ending the match.
Winner: Lars Sullivan via pinfall in 10 minutes
One cool point for the nXt producers for not going to commercial break. There were a few pauses that made me think it was coming, but it never did. That’s a fantastic choice. Hope that happens more often in the coming weeks.

As for Sullivan and Dain, one cool point each for the amount of effort these two expend, flying, running and slamming each other around the ring and ringside area. Always impressed by their willingness to lay their bodies on the line. That’s no easy feat for 300+ pounders.

A promo featuring Candice LeRae’s arrival to the WWE Performance Centre is shown, which then switches to the role Zelina Vega has played in interfering with Gargano’s chances at nXt Championship gold. This moves into the feud that started between LeRae and Vega, hyping up tonight’s main event. It’s up next!

Final Segment

The Undisputed Era is shown entering a photo shoot, bragging about how good they all look as champions. Next week, they will be live at Full Sail, and we’ll get some answers about why Roderick Strong joined them at Takeover: New Orleans.
We’ll also see Adam Cole defend the nXt North American Championship, for the first time, against Oney Lorcan. Way to go, Oney! Fantastic choice.

Singles Match: Candice LeRae vs. Zelina Vega

LeRae pushes Vega off of her feet to start this match. She flips Vega around to smash her face on her knee, and heads to the top rope. Suddenly, Andrade “Cien” Almas leaps up to the apron! This distracts LeRae and Vega sends her tumbling to the mat. Crowd isn’t happy about that. This brings Johnny Gargano out. He tends to LeRae who was tossed to the mat. Vega rolls LeRae back into the ring. 1-2- kickout!

The men look on as Vega tries to choke out LeRae. LeRae returns to her feet and drives Vega backwards into the turnbuckle. She charges. Vega evades and kicks LeRae. Running double knees! 1-2- kickout.

Vega going for the hammerlock DDT. LeRae reverses it and rolls up Vega for a 2 count. Cross chops and forearms to Vega as LeRae connects with a flurry of strikes. She climbs up to the top turnbuckle, crouches and launches herself with a missile dropkick on Vega. 2 count.

Flying head scissors brings Vega to the mat and she applies the Gargano Escape. This brings Almas and Gargano into the ring, and Gargano grabs Almas to apply the exact same hold! Never been seen before, both Vega and Almas tap!
Winner: Candice LeRae via submission in 4 minutes

That’s a fan-pleasing debut for LeRae who’s been in the business for 16 years. Vega and Almas stumble up the ramp towards the main roster of Smackdown Live.

Gargano gets a mic and says that was awesome! Crowd agrees and chants it too. Now, they’ve officially taken care of business and he challenges Aleister Black for the nXt Championship. This brings out the new nXt Champion, dressed sharply in black vest, shirt and tie, championship gold hung over his left shoulder. Fans cheer as he stands on the stage.

Black says you can have that match…NEXT WEEK!

One cool point for putting the cherry on top of a sweet journey for Gargano and LeRae. Great seeing LeRae and Vega in the ring. One cool point for both of them because, while it was a short match, it was a fine appetizer to both women’s in-ring abilities. Not sure if Vega will be an active member of women’s roster, but she could be interjected into important storylines with confidence.

Booking Gargano vs. Black is what’s best for business. Fans want to see it and it provides more time before we see Undisputed Era turn their attention back to the nXt Championship. Strong vs. Black could work for Chicago, if Gargano vs. Black doesn’t make it there.

The new “season” has begun, and kudos to nXt for tying up old rivalries while featuring some of the new talent. Looking forward to reading your cool point suggestions and comments on tonight’s nXt show.

By the way, it’s a great time to get in on the writing action yourself by visiting the LOP Columns Forum . I’ve noticed some new names down there in the past month and frequent columns being shared. Definitely worth the bookmark and you’ll meet a great crew of fans and writers there.
Peace!!
Follow @JCoolLOP