B. Patrick
WWE NXT – 12/18/13
The music of HHH opens the show with the COO walking to the ring, even shaking hands with some fans ringside.
HHH thanks the fans for chanting his name but lets them know he rather here a different chant when in Full Sail University, prompting the crowd to chant NXT. He lets the crowd know this is the 200th episode and starts talking about some of the guys to pass through NXT citing Damien Sandow, Antonio Cesaro, the Shield and the Wyatts. After talking more about the program, the crowd chants enough for Trips to acknowledge the Intercontinental Champion Big E Langston.
HHH tells the crowd to stand up and acknowledge this is their show and their arena. He congratulates the crowd on their accomplishment and states they didn’t come to see him talk. He wants them to get to action and then does a bit of his “ARE YOU READY?” routine before the opening video begins.
Sami Zayn’s music hits as Tom Phillips welcomes us to the 200th episode. This week’s team will be Phillips, Saxton and Tensai. Tensai points out almost 100 of these episodes have been at Full Sail while we hear most of the titles will be defended tonight.
Tyson Kidd comes out next.
The two Canadians shake hands while we hear both men want to get their hands on Leo Kruger, who is the next man out.
The crowd explodes as the music of the Real Americans hits and Antonio Cesaro runs out to the ring. We are reminded of the praised 2 out of 3 Falls match between Zayn and Cesaro earlier this year. As the crowd starts dueling “WE THE PEOPLE” and “SAMI ZAYN” chants.
Sami Zayn & Tyson Kidd vs. Leo Kruger & Antonio Cesaro
Kidd and Kruger start off and have a few quick exchanges before Zayn and Cesaro are tagged in. The crowd chants “MATCH OF THE YEAR”. The two don’t even make contact before some start chanting “THIS IS AWESOME”.
As Cesaro begins to use his power on Zayn, Tensai makes a confession that he has no idea what ska music is.
Cesaro brings the power game while Zayn escapes with finesse before bringing Tyson Kidd in. Tyson gets some offense in before Cesaro crushes him with a big power move. Tyson is in pain on the apron when the shows hits a commercial break.
As the match resumes, Kidd is rolling up Leo Kruger. After a quick kickout, Leo hits a huge spinebuster on Kidd for the two count.
Cesaro back in to work over Tyson. A few uppercuts, some tosses and as he locks Tyson in a headlock, Saxton asks why someone as talented as Cesaro needs to pick on him to get the attention of Regal. That whining combined with how much Full Sail loves Cesaro would make one think Saxton is the bad guy in all of this.
The Kidd from Calgary is getting worked over the other team, as Cesaro lays out Zayn on the apron before bringing Kruger back in to continue to work the neck of Tyson. As the team of Antonio and Leo get overconfident, Kidd is able to make a quick duck and crawl over to bring in the fresh Sami Zayn.
A flurry of offense from Sami lays out Kruger. He gives Antonio the same treatment he received, knocking the Swiss Superman off the apron. Kruger takes a quick advantage here before Sami hits a crossbody for a nearfall.
Sami avoids Kruger’s Slice and hits a sitdown powerbomb but Cesaro breaks up the count.
Tyson is back in the middle of the action and Cesaro finds himself on the outside with Tyson Kidd flying onto him. While this happens outside, Zayn hits his corner big boot on Kruger and picks up the win.
Winners: Sami Zayn & Tyson Kidd
Replays air before the victors are shown smiling and celebrating on the ramp.
Backstage Emma is dancing behind Natalya, who tells Emma she almost poked her eye out. Emma gives an insincere apology. Natalya says she was trying to watch Tyson’s match before Emma accuses Nattie of being a big time reality star.
Emma takes a cheap shot at Natalya’s title shot before Nattie questions her being named Number One contender via dance off. The two argue the importance of dance and wrestling before setting up a match. With all the really great future Divas at NXT, I still don’t know why so many people love Emma so much…
A graphic advertises a championship Lumberjack Match between NXT Champion Bo Dallas and Adrian Neville.
We see highlights from the first NXT, showing the longshot of the cast – Wade Barrett, Darren Young, Michael Tarver, Antonio Cesaro, Heath Slater, Skip “Ryback” Sheffield, Justin Gabriel. Of course, they also show Daniel Bryan and show the highlights of his battle with Chris Jericho.
We see a video about a special NXT 200 celebration where they had a Twitter secret autograph signing with Kofi Kingston, Eva Marie, JoJo and Natalya.
Sasha Banks comes out with Summer Rae. Such a difference about The Boss since hooking up with Summer.
The music of the NXT Women’s Champion, Paige, hits and the English Anti-Diva makes her way to the ring.
Sasha Banks vs. NXT Women’s Champion Paige
Sasha comes out on fire. Saxton discusses how great it is for Summer to come back and mentor Sasha, while Tensai claims Summer only claims about herself and FANDANGO.
Sasha dominates the champion, first with a flurry of power before tying her up. Tensai questions all the Sasha talk in the match. He points out while he likes Sasha and shares a Boston connection with her, you have to respect the champion.
At this time, Paige is able to counter an attack from Sasha. Paige starts rallying before Summer grabs her leg. Paige moves away from a charging Sasha, who kicks Summer in the face.
Banks is distraught and hit with a Paige Turner.
Winner: Paige
Saxton mentions that Paige really just won due to a miscue. Saxton is doing the bi-polar NXT commentary they usually have A-Ry do. They occasionally feel the need for a heel and just have a randomly personality shift. Thanks, Byron.
Colin Cassidy is backstage talking to Enzo Amore, who is confined to a leopard print wheelchair. He is complaining about handicap access when they hear Aiden English warming up. The two Jersey boys get into it with The Artiste, doing a quick comedy segment and setting up a future match.
A graphic for the much anticipated Ascension Open Challenge is advertised as next.
We see another “historical video”, highlighting the transition from all-time great show NXT Redemption to the Full Sail NXT. They show highlights of the Bo Dallas victory and Tyson Kidd beating the then-Michael McGillicutty in the main event before Dusty Rhodes does Dusty Rhodes.
The Ascension are in the ring. Next up, we see a couple familiar faces now called The American Pitbulls. Tensai really puts over the former American Wolves. The former Davey Richards is now Derek Billington (nice Dynamite Kid reference) and Eddie Edwards is John Cahill.
The Ascension vs. The American Pitbulls
The crowd chants “LET’S GO PITBULLS” immediately as Rick Victor starts off against Billington. We hear about how great they have been around the world before Saxton mentions “nerves in their tummies”.
Pitbulls utilize some quick tags and Cahill comes in before Victor brings him to the Ascension corner. O’Brian in the match, he slows down the Pitbulls momentum. Cahill on the toss brings in Billington and they surprise O’Brian with a double team. The Pitbulls take a quick advantage before Conor uses his raw power and size. It sounds like the name change to just Viktor and Konor has happened now, as we aren’t hearing Rick or O’Brian on commentary.
We hear how Ascension don’t need to be super close, shutting down the arguments for the Pitbulls advantage. After being dominated, Billington tags into Cahill who starts off on fire and tosses both members of the Ascension to the outside.
Both Pitbulls dive to the outside, rallying up the crowd. Cahill rolls Victor in, Billington tagged in and hits a huge top rope headbutt. Victor kicks out.
Victor nails a huge move on Billington, takes out Cahill and brings in Conor/Konor for the Fall of Man.
Winner: The Ascension
The Pitbulls put on a nice showing against the reigning tag champs, which seems nice. Before I finish typing the sentence, Tensai reminds the viewing audience with the direct quote “BIG WILL ALWAYS BEAT SMALL”. Oh, Tensai…
Hunico and Camacho come out talking trash to the champions, so The Ascension hit a few more moves on the Pitbulls to prove a point.
Devin Taylor is backstage asking Kofi Kingston what it is like to be backstage at NXT for the first time. As he talks about the greatness of 200 episodes, Lana comes in and makes reference to her client, Alexander Rusev. Kofi apologizes for not understanding her. She says in English that Alexander Rusev wants to crush him next week.
We are told next week’s episode, which falls on Christmas Day is going to recap all the top 2013 moments – Superstars jumping to WWE, stars and legends who visited NXT, their pick for Match of the Year as well as the Cesaro-Regal match up.
Some recognizable NXT faces are standing ringside and some guys I have no idea are ringside as lumberjacks. HOWARD FINKEL is in the ring to do intros. At this point, I’m really only recognizing Tyler Breeze amongst the lumberjacks.
Adrian Neville comes out first before Bo Dallas makes his way through the LumberJOB Squad.
NXT Championship Lumberjack Match
Adrian Neville vs. NXT Champion Bo Dallas
As the two tie up, the crowd is more interested in chanting for Tyler Breeze, who is spending time checking out his phone.
The crowd begins to chant for Neville, who takes a quick advantage. Dallas tries to escape to sell the gimmick, as a couple vanilla lumberjacks put him in the ring and point for him to stay there. I always feel Lumberjack matches only serve the purpose when you know the guys ringside.
Neville gets tossed to the outside near Breeze. Breeze goes to toss him in and Neville blocks it. Tyler looks confused and Adrian knocks him down with a blow to the face.
The match goes to commercial with Breeze on the ground and the crowd at Full Sail chanting for him.
Before the Championship Match resumes, we see a flashback to NXT #132 where Seth Rollins is crowned the first NXT champion versus Jinder Mahal. Hey, there is Ethan Carter III!
Back to action, Dallas is thwarted by Neville. Neville starts throwing some kicks as the crowd asks him to continue.
Breeze is still down and looking upset, so I guess we know why he is the only known lumberjack in this match. Well, I think I see Travis Tyler and a couple Brokeback looking cowboys too.
Bo gets some offense in. He hits a bodyslam on Neville but taking his time, winds up with a kick to the face.
Dallas is frustrated and pacing above Adrian. He picks up the Jumpin Jordy and starts slowly clobbering him. Bo soaks in the disdain of the crowd before nailing a huge clothesline for a two count.
Dallas showing higher levels of frustration than usual. He goes for his corner bulldog but Neville tosses him and throws in some kicks and a cross body. Neville starts picking up the past and few more kicks later, he makes a pin for a two count.
Neville lays into the champ with more kicks and a standing shooting star. It just isn’t enough. The crowd is chanting “WE WILL RIOT”.
Dallas tries to leave, so all the lumberjacks hold him and Adrian hits a huge dive to the outside.
Neville brings Dallas back to the ring. A wrestler that the announcers cannot identify distracts the referee. Neville is going for the Red Arrow but the distraction allows Tyler Breeze to pull Bo out of the way.
The champion scrambles to score the pin and victory.
Winner: Bo Dallas
We happy Bo, angry Breeze and defeated Neville as NXT 200 comes to a close.
NXT Win/Loss Totals (as of 5/15/2013)
Mojo Rawley 3-0
Tyson Kidd 2-0
AJ Lee 1-0
Santino Marella 1-0
Roman Reigns 1-0
Seth Rollins 1-0
Sheamus 1-0
Jack Swagger 1-0
Rob Van Dam 1-0
Dolph Ziggler 1-0
Paige 8-1
Erick Rowan 5-1
Charlotte 4-1
Big E Langston 4-1
Xavier Woods 4-1
Bray Wyatt 4-1
Conor O’Brian 11-3
Bo Dallas 9-3
Rick Victor 9-3
Luke Harper 7-2
Alexander Rusev 7-3
Antonio Cesaro 6-4
Mason Ryan 5-2
Garrett Dylan 2-1
Hunico 2-1
Emma 5-3
Adrian Neville 9-7
Sasha Banks 5-4
Tyler Breeze 5-4
Summer Rae 5-5
Camacho 2-2
Dean Ambrose 1-1
Sylvester Lefort 1-1
Sami Zayn 8-9
Leo Kruger 6-7
Aiden English 4-5
CJ Parker 3-5
Corey Graves 6-8
Enzo Amore 4-6
Colin Cassidy 4-6
Scott Dawson 4-8
Kassius Ohno 2-6
Alicia Fox 1-2
Bayley 1-6
Audrey Marie 0-1
Curtis Axel 0-1
Andy Baker 0-1
Derrick Bateman 0-1
Derek Billington 0-1
John Cahill 0-1
Michael Cuellari 0-1
Dante Dash 0-1
Ty Dillenger 0-1
Fandango 0-1
Sawyer Fulton 0-1
Santana Garrett 0-1
Ron Hicks 0-1
Casey Maron 0-1
Troy McClaine 0-1
John Ornagan 0-1
Briley Pierce 0-1
William Regal 0-1
Chris Rockwell 0-1
Sakamoto 0-1
Damien Sandow 0-1
Tamina Snuka 0-1
Tommy Taylor 0-1
Brandon Travern 0-1
Michael Zaki 0-1
Aksana 0-2
Jake Carter 0-2
Baron Corbin 0-2
Angelo Dawkins 0-2
El Local 0-2
Curt Hawkins 0-2
Yoshi Tatsu 0-2
Danny Burch 0-3
Mickey Keegan 0-3
Natalya 0-3
Travis Tyler 0-3
