Peter Kostka
Taped at Full Sail University. William Regal, Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips are your commentators.
Colin Cassidy & Enzo Amore vs. THE VAUDEVILLIANS
I’m actually not too familiar with Amore since I got into NXT while he was away. The Vaudevillains’ entrance is simply amazing with the old time carnival barker and the black and white…..it makes me as giddy as Regal is. Enzo and English mix it up for a bit with neither getting an advantage until Enzo tags BIG CASS who takes over with kneelifts. Regal dropping old carnival terms never gets old. Gotch tags in and doesn’t fare much better but Cass is suddenly distracted by the music and appearance of The Legionnaires and Gotch rolls him up for the pin.
Thoughts: Quite the tag division beginning to form in NXT which I approve of because I’ve kind of had enough of The Ascension steamrolling through the tag ranks. If all this is is creating more fodder for them, then there is a problem. There wasn’t much to this match itself, but we are establishing three good new teams to watch.
Tonight: Sami Zayn faces Dirtbag Tyson Kidd. Fuuuck yeessssss.
The Ascension cut a promo saying that they are the only hunters in the NXT tag division. That may be the first promo I’ve seen from these guys.
We recap the end of the BFFs. Next week is the title match between Charlotte and Summer Rae.
CJ Parker vs Xavier Woods
Regal refers to Parker as “dirty, scruffy, filthy hippie swine” while calling Woods his “funk soul brother” Never leave us, William. They exchange holds as this is the rare match where I’d rather listen to the commentary as Byron and William debate the merits of Parker’s message. It’s hilarious. Woods gets a headscissors, but Parker reverses a whip and Woods awkwardly catches his throat on the bottom rope trying to slide out of the ring (at least, that’s what it looked like). Byron compares Parker to Reagan and Oprah. “Next you’ll be calling him Gandhi.” “Wait until next week.”. Parker controls with basic offense as it’s clear neither of these guys has much of a presence in the ring. Woods finally kicks things into gear a bit and hits a DDT for 2. Woods misses a top rope crossbody and CJ rolls him up (he was supposed to grab the rope for leverage but was too far out of place to reach them) for the pin.
Thoughts: I’m sorry but CJ Parker is just shit in the ring. Maybe more seasoning will improve him, but even his basic move set isn’t impressive at all. Woods is OK, but is just spinning his wheels in the company right now.
Sami Zayn runs down Kidd, saying that we are seeing his true colors right now.
Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks
Banks is extra aggressive to start as she’s facing the woman who beat her in the Women’s title tournament, draping her on the middle turnbuckle and dropping a knee in her gut. Bliss makes a brief comeback, but the BAWSE hits a backstabber and turns it into a facelock to get the submission.
Thoughts: Really liked Banks’ aggressiveness in this match as she has to start creating a persona of her own now that the BFFs are done. That’s a cool looking finisher too how she snaps her opponent over into the facelock after the backstabber. Good stuff.
Devin asks Social Media Maven and #1 Contender to the NXT Title Tyler Breeze when he will ask for his title shot, but THESE THINGS TAKE TIME DAMMIT! His finger is still hurt too! But the contract is being drawn up. However, he is gracious enough to present his music video again. Let’s see Weird Al parody THIS!
We get the end of last week’s main event and Natalya’s refusal to comment on it afterward. Devin interviews DTK who brushes off what happened to Nattie and promises victory.
Adam Rose vs. Jason Jordon
Man, watching Adam Rose on NXT and comparing that to how he is on the main shows is night and day. The Full Sail crowd is behind him 100%. I think he could fill in the Santino role of “lower card comedy guy” just fine. Rose goofs around to start but Jordon gets serious and becomes a party pooper, hitting a nice bridging suplex for 2. Rose with the comeback hits a flying headscissors, a bronco buster and the Party Foul for the pin.
Thoughts: I bet watching Rose at a house show or NXT taping is great fun. He seems to be the kind of wrestler that works his best with a smaller crowd. It has kind of translated to the bigger shows, but I’d rather watch him here than on RAW. I think he has found his niche.
Devin talks to Kalisto, but the Vaudevillains interrupt, doing a silent film routine and deepening my love for them that much more. Kalisto vows to find a new tag partner to face them next week.
Dirtbag Tyson Kidd vs Sami Zayn
Zayn wants to get into it right away, but Kidd rolls to the outside as the “Nattie’s Husband” chant breaks out. Kidd takes a powder again and the chant turns to “Tyson chicken”. This crowd is the best. Zayn finally gets some offense in and goes for the Heluva Kick, but Kidd bails again. This time he suckers Zayn in and punts him in the jaw when he gives chase, followed by a snap suplex on the ramp as we take a break.
Kidd in control as we return and the crowd starts singing the Chicken Dance. He hangs Zayn in the tree of woe and, after a look to the crowd, drills him with a dropkick. Zayn makes the comeback, including a moonsault to the outside and a crossbody gets 2. Kidd trips him into the ropes and drops a leg on his head, hitting a German for 2. Kidd goes up, but Zayn blocks the elbow with his knees and hits the Blue Thunder bomb for 2. Kidd hits a kick and delivers the Blockbuster, but Zayn is out at 2. Kidd locks in the Sharpshooter but Zayn eventually crawls to the rope for a break. Kidd up again, but Zayn catches him with a faceslam and the Koji Clutch for the submission.
Thoughts: They did just enough to make it a fun match, but I know these guys could tear it down in a longer match. Good that they are finally giving Zayn wins to make him a threat.
FINAL THOUGHTS: The only way I can call an episode of NXT “bad” is if there is no feeling of development in either the characters or the angles. This week had both. We still have the NXT title match coming, the tag division is shaping up nicely, Tyson Kidd continues to be a dirt bag and guys are discovering their roles in the company. Can’t ask for much more.
That’s it for this week. Drop me a line @PKIsTwitting on Twitter or leave a comment below. See you next week.
