Peter Kostka
We recap the events of last week between Kevin Owens and Alex Riley. In GM Regal’s office, Riley asks for a match, but Regal makes him choose between commentary or becoming a competitor again. Nice continuity as Riley points out that Regal did both but Regal answers that Cesaro messed him up because of it and he hasn’t been in the ring since.
From The NXT Arena at Full Sail University
Adam Rose vs. Tyler Breeze
I loved this match. I don’t care if that brings all of my future and past opinions into question. It must have been nice for Rose to be in front of an appreciative crowd for once. This was 100% a comedy match but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing when it actually makes me laugh. Breeze has become really good at being able to play things for comedy when the situation calls for it and can show an aggressive side when it is needed (like in the Itami match at Rival). Breeze wins with the Beauty Shot and literally fights off the Rosebuds with his #SelfieStick.
Tyler Breeze is ready for the main roster. I will type that sentence in every one of his matches from now on.
Enzo and Big Cass have words for the tag champs. Bacon will be beat off backs and be brought home in the form of championship titles.
Alexa Bliss is back and hasn’t forgotten about what Sasha Banks did to her nose. Nice to mix in someone new to the women’s picture because there are only so many matches the current four can have before it starts getting stale.
Blake and Murphy The Dubstep Cowboys vs. Angelo Dawkins and Sawyer Fulton
Why is Fulton wearing ear protectors? The singlet on Dawkins basically makes the transformation into Shelton Benjamin circa 2005 complete. Fulton just looks like a goof. Blake finishes with an impressive frog splash from 3/4ths across the ring.
Bayley offers good luck to Charlotte in her title match. Emma walks in and brushes off a Bayley invitation to watch the match as she completely heels on her, saying that she tried Bayley’s “fun loving girl” act on RAW and it failed.
Rhyno hype video. They seem to mix in some old-school ECW promo footage into this which makes the whole thing that much more surreal.
Baron Corbin vs. Tony Briggs
Briggs looks like the love child of Brock and Colt Cabana. Another squash, but the main focus here is Kevin Owens leering behind Riley at the announce desk. After Corbin gets the win, Albert tries to talk Riley off the ledge, but Owens takes Riley’s water and pours it on him causing Alex to finally snap and Albert to hold him back. Owens just walks to the back.
Sami Zayn is back home in Montreal and sends along a video. He talks about the changes in NXT and his 13 year anniversary of the start of his career. He isn’t mentally prepared to return just yet and is home to try to get perspective. He hasn’t watched the Rival match yet, but once he does, he may be finally able to verbalize what he will do to Owens.
CJ Parker is annoying GM Regal and Riley bursts in, his decision having been made. Regal will give him Owens when he is ready. Parker decides to open his mouth, so Riley decides to start with Parker next week. KICK HIS ASS A-RY! Amazing that even this little side trip for Owens is working like a charm. Riley has been knocking it out of the park and he should get a huge reaction until Owens destroys him. I mean, I harp on NXT doing things better than the main shows so much, but this has to be the most amazing example yet: I want to see ALEX RILEY beat someone up in 20fucking15.
Bull Dempsey vs. Solomon Crowe
I’ll be honest: Crowe does nothing for me right now. Plus, Bull Dempsey is completely done as a threat so I can’t even get interested in him working Crowe over. I really have nothing to say about this match aside from that Crowe’s finisher is kinda stupid.
A commercial reveals that Owens will defend the NXT Title against Finn Balor on the March 25th episode. Really strange to just throw that announcement into the middle of the show like that.
Sasha Banks (C) vs. Charlotte (NXT Women’s Championship Match)
This was basically a “greatest hits” reel of their past matches, but also showed that both women learned from each other. Every Charlotte match I watch I’m amazed at how much she has improved in such a short time. She can play the aggressive heel role and she can sell for a smaller heel like Banks and still make it look great (it helps that Banks is fucking awesome in her own right). Banks tries the same move that won her the title (crucifix pin off a crossface) but Charlotte kicks out at 2. Charlotte gets her off her back with a backpack stunner and goes up, but Sasha counters both the moonsault and the follow-up forward flip with her knee. She focuses on the back and locks in a double arm choke that has Charlotte bent almost in half (which looks like it really fucking hurts). Banks cuts off the comeback and locks in the Banks Statement but Charlotte rolls through (with Banks keeping the hold on) to get close to the ropes and force a break. She hits a neckbreaker and DRILLS Banks with a spear (drawing a “Better than Reigns!” chant). Charlotte goes for the knee and wraps her in a figure four around the post. She goes for Natural Selection off the top, but Banks grabs the rope and rolls up a stunned Charlotte (putting her feet on the ropes like a good heel should) to retain.
OVERALL: Like I’ve said before. all NXT has to do to be a good episode is not be a complete waste of time. Here we got story development, a really good main event and, once again, they’ve made it so I give a shit about ALEX RILEY in 2015. Give these guys a damn Emmy or something for that.
