It’s NXT time! The show kicks off with last week’s surprise winners Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake with an entrance video likely to cause seizures. They’re facing the kiddie-friendly Lucha Dragons, current NXT tag team champions.
Match 1: Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake vs The Lucha Dragons
Blake starts out with Sin Cara, showing some smooth chain wrestling into a springboard armdrag from the luchador. Blake hits a scoop slam and tags in Murphy, but Sin Cara counters a double-team move and takes control.
Murphy hits a dropkick on a flipping Sin Cara and goes for a pin – kick out at 2. Tag to Blake and the challengers stomp a mudhole in Sin Cara in the corner, then Blake hits a snap suplex followed by a rear chinlock. Sin Cara eventually fights his way to his feet but gets thrown into the corner by Blake and hit with a series of kicks.
Sin Cara reverses a charge in the corner with a rollup followed by a pickup powerbomb, displaying impressive strength for a high-flyer. Double tag and Murphy hits the ring to take on whirling dervish Callisto. Corrkscrew cross body by Callisto followed by a rebound enziguiri, then a flipping powerbomb/code red.
Sin Cara throws Blake out of the ring and follows with something that doesn’t quite work out, then gets thrown into the ring apron for his trouble. Sin Cara is out on the outside as Blake gets the tag from Murphy without Callisto noticing. The luchador goes for the SDS (known as the Sethwalker when Rollins uses it) on Murphy but is rolled up from behind by Blake for a three count.
Your winners and new NXT tag champs, Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake. This was a decent match and while the Murphy/Blake victory may be a way for the Dragons to move up to Raw or Smackdown, it’s good to see new players in the tag scene.
Recap of last week’s Sasha Banks match with Charlotte, along with the Regal announcement that the championship match will be a fatal four way. We cut to Charlotte in the dressing room with Bailey, essentially threatening to kill her if she gets in her way. Bailey reminds Charlotte that they’re teaming tonight and need to work together, but Charlotte isn’t happy and storms off
Tyler Breeze promo talking about how gorgeous he is.
Match 2: Adrian Neville vs Tyson Kidd
This is a qualifying match for the Number #1 contender for the NXT title. Neville enters the ring first to a good crowd pop. Kidd is next, complete with Hoodie and headphones.
The bell rings as we have duelling ‘Let’s Go Neville/Let’s Go Tyson’ chants from the crowd. Lockup is followed by a nice chain wrestling sequence reminiscent of RVD and Jerry Lynn, where each man uses his knowledge of his opponent to try and get the upper hand.
Neville and Kidd circle each other and then jockey for advantage, with Kidd locking in a front facelock. Neville powers out and grabs a hammerlock as the commentators hype the upcoming Bull Dempsey/Baron Corbin match, which most sensible people realise is going to suck.
More technical wrestling from Kidd and Neville, with smooth reversals leading to Kidd gaining the advantage. The Canadian beats on Neville for a while before Adrian dodges a kick and flips his way across the ring. Kidd bails to the outside after being hit with a flying head-scissors, and Neville teases a dive but hits a fake-out handspring flip off the ropes instead.
Kidd uses the ten count on the outside before rolling back into the ring and straight back out again. More stalling by Kidd playing the smarmy heel, drawing Neville into a surprise attack on the outside. Neville goes face first into the steel steps and Kidd gets back into the ring, demanding the ref counts Neville out.
Back from the ad break and Kidd is in control, hitting a big dropkick on a seated Neville, then wrapping his head up in the ring apron. Neville eventually reverses and clotheslines Kiss to the outside, then following up with a twisting over-the-top dive.
Neville takes control back in the ring and hits a standing moonsault, but Kidd eventually reverses and hits the spinning neckbreaker for a two count. The crowd chant ‘this is wrestling’ as a series of reversals lead to Neville hitting a wicked looking sit-out powerbomb.
The momentum continues to shift back and forth until Neville hits a kick to the head followed by the red arrow. Pin and three count bring an end to a great match that really showcased the skills of both men.
In ring interview with Neville where he basically buries Dempsey and Corbin, saying he’s going to win the tournament and regain his title. This is followed by an interview with Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks, teasing a split between the mean girls.
Post-match interview with Murphy and Blake where the boys talk up their win and promise to be fighting champs. They still need to work on their interview skills but seem to be genuinely excited by their title win.
Match 3: Charlotte & Bailey vs Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch
These four divas will compete against each other for the title, so we can expect some shenanigans along the way. Bailey starts out against Sasha, who makes up for her inability to run by shouting a lot. Communication breaks down and one botch follows another, until Sasha sensibly tags in Becky.
Quick tag back to Sasha and Bailey manages to reach Charlotte, who hits the ring like a woman possessed. She uses her superior size and strength to toss Sasha around the ring. Tag back to Becky who immediately gets hit in the throat by a poorly aimed chop from Charlotte.
Bailey tags herself back in and taunts Sasha as she lays into Becky, hitting her with a baseball slide into the barrier. Becky distracts the ref as Sasha hits some cheap shots on Bailey, followed by a trio of leg drops from Lynch. Double team back elbows on Bailey as Sasha tags back in and starts to work on Bailey’s injured knee.
Tags to Charlotte and Banks, with Charlotte solidly in control. Charlotte locks in a modified figure four leglock but Lynch breaks it up. Bailey accidentally hits Charlotte while trying to break up and pin and the teammates turn on each other, brawling both inside and outside the ring.
The match is declared a no contest, and considering the number of botches we should be happy that nobody was seriously injured.
Interview with Finn Balor about his impending match against Hideo Itami, followed by an interview with Emma about her return to NXT.
Match 4: Baron Corbin vs Bull Dempsey
Corbin enters the ring first as the commentators talk up his undefeated streak, followed by Bull Dempsey and his definitely piped-in ‘Bull’ chant. Corbin towers over Dempsey as the match begins with some punching and kicking. This punching and kicking is followed by more punching and kicking, followed by yet more of the same. Corbin takes out Dempsey with a shoulder tackle (sort of a wrestling move I suppose) and Bull escapes to the outside.
Corbin follows him and hits a few punches and kicks on the outside, then throws Dempsey back into the ring, setting up the most predictable shift ever. As Baron rolls back in Bull lays into him with kicks, followed by punches and a headbutt for variety.
In a surprising twist, Corbin hits some more punches and kicks followed by the end of days. One, two, three and this waste of time and space is over. Neither of these guys have the moves or charisma to make the main roster, and Dempsey in particular is about as threatening as a teddy bear.
Hold onto your hats because it’s contract signing time, as William Regal introduces the champion Sami Zayn. Sami makes his way to the ring to rapturous applause, followed by Kevin Owens looking like someone who could kill Bull Dempsey without breaking a sweat.
Usual contract signing rubbish, with Regal threatening to cancel the match if either man attacks the other. Zayn picks up a mic and talks about the long history between him and Owens, pointing out that they have both made it to the place they’ve been working towards for so long.
Owens stares at Zayn expressionless and refuses to sign the contract, saying that he won’t agree to a non-title match. Wait, they’re doing a contract signing bit for a non-title match?
Sami talks Regal into making it a title match, firing up the crowd to rally behind his cause. Because this is wrestling, Regal immediately changes his mind and the title match is on. Owens signs the contract and throws the pen at Zayn, then exits the ring as NXT logos appear and the show draws to a close.
Another good show from NXT, with some new blood in the tag ranks and a great match between Adrian Neville and Tyson Kidd.
