This week’s episode of NXT opens in memory of “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. There wasn’t a tribute video, but the same tribute picture shown from Monday Night Raw. We kick off NXT with a women’s wrestling match. Great way to put some shine of the current NXT women's division.
Charlotte - Bayley
Charlotte received a good reception, but Bayley was the crowd favorite for this one. Bayley’s entrance is one of a kind, with huge tubed blow ups, catchy music, and her entrance attire. She brings a lot of focus and eyes her way. Great way to be noticed. Charlotte showed her athleticism with a 2 kip-ups early on. The two trade of with an exchange of headlocks and reversals. At one point Charlotte did a maneuver with her legs wrapped around Bailey’s head and knees on the mat, then flipped Bayley three times to the other side with her leg strength. Charlotte doesn’t just say she’s genetically superior, but also backs it up. Both women continue to reverse each other with one move for another. After an exchange of reverses Bayley is able to do a corkscrew back elbow to Charlotte.
From here Bayley is able to take control of the match. Bailey is able to pick up Charlotte and place her on the top turnbuckle. Bayley then climbs to the top and connects with a Bayley-canrana. Charlotte is able to kick out of a near-fall. The two women have another series of fluid exchanges and reverses. A “Women’s Wrestling” chant starts amongst the crowd. Charlotte locks in a figure eight with a reversal from Bayley. Bayley then capitalizes with her finisher the Bayley-to-belly, but Charlotte kicks out of another near-fall. The crowd chants “This is awesome” chant, as Bayley sticks a big German suplex. Again, Charlotte is able to kick out of a near-fall. Charlotte climbs to the top turnbuckle, but Bayley is there to meet her. Bailey then lands a huge Bayley-to-belly suplex from the top turnbuckle.
Great heart and perseverance shown by Charlotte. Bailey also showed a lot of heart and determination during this match. Great way to start this week’s episode. This had to be the biggest win of Bayley’s young career. It places Bayley in a position to challenge Sasha Banks for the NXT Women’s Championship. She definitely came off as the unnamed number on contender to the title. The crowd came alive during this match. The audience was loud and engaged throughout the match-up.
Winner by pinfall:
Bayley
The commentators then plug NXT: Takeover live in Brooklyn, the night before Summerslam. Kevin Owens is then shown in an empty arena NXT interview with Michael Cole. They discuss Owens’s apology to NXT General Manager William Regal for punching him during the NXT Championship match contract signing with NXT Champion Finn Balor. Kevin Owens is well spoken, with a cadence, and delivery that hasn’t been seen in WWE for quite some time. Owens talked about not liking to walk down Raw, Smackdown, or NXT without a title on his shoulder.
Owens questioned Regal’s honesty and claimed a referee may be paid off. He then stated he wanted a ladder match against Finn Balor in Brooklyn with the NXT Championship held high above the ring. The interview ended with Cole questioning if Owens can beat Balor. Owens appeared offended by the question, but remained calm. He took of his microphone and tossed at Michael Cole as he walked away. Awesome interview from Owens. He came off like a genuine heel during this vignette. Hopefully we see the WWE implement more of this on either Raw or Smackdown. Owens definitely shined in this one.
There is then a vignette compilation of Bull Dempsey working out in the gym and admiring other people as they worked out. This was comical, but it didn’t come off as very amusing. It gave more of a sense that Bull Dempsey is lazy and doesn’t work hard. We’ll see where this leads his character.
Baron Corbin - Steve Cutler
Any match with Corbin isn’t expected to be too long and this one wasn’t much different. There was one punch from Corbin and and an End of Days for the finish. Corbin received a chant of “Boring” and responded by saying something to the crowd prior to delivering the finisher.
Winner by pinfall:
Baron Corbin
William Regal is then shown in his office speaking to Bayley about being on a role. She made a case for receiving a championship match against Sasha Banks, but Regal chose to give her a number one contenders match against Becky Lynch at NXT: Takeover in two weeks. Bayley was ecstatic and left with a big smile. This is a great way to send off the three women who debuted on Raw with the Divas Revolution and finishing the storyline with Bayley possibly capturing her first NXT Women’s Championship.
“Prince Pretty” Tyler Breeze - Aaron Solow
Tyler Breeze opens the match by stomping a mudhole in his Solow’s abdomen in the corner. Breeze came off pretty fierce during this match with a relentless assault. He also taunts his opponent or Regal, yelling “This, this is what I get?” Breeze ends the match fast with his beauty shot finisher.
Winner by pinfall:
"Prince Pretty" Tyler Breeze
Breeze appears frustrated and disappointed he doesn’t have more competition. He then talks to his phone on his selfie stick saying “This is what I get?” William Regal interrupts soon after to announce he “scouward the Earth” to find his opponent at NXT: Takeover. Regal then reveals Breeze’s opponent at NXT:Takeover will be none other than the legendary Jushin “Thunder” Liger. This is a huge match, as its Jushin “Thunder” Liger’s first appearance in the WWE. There was also a video package shown with WCW, ECW, and Japan footage. This should help familiarize the younger part of the NXT Universe.
After this announcement there is a video compilation package of NXT newcomer, the former Uhaa Nation. He announced in the package his name is Apollo Crews and will be at NXT: Takeover in Brooklyn. There is a bright future for NXT and Crews should only shine if given the proper attention and opportunity. He comes with a lot of independent wrestling experience. The package also focused on his athleticism as he trained at the WWE Performance Center.
An interview from NXT Champion Finn Balor with Byron Saxton taken from earlier in the week is shown to help build the main event of NXT: Takeover. Byron inquires about Kevin hitting William Regal, but Balor responds saying “Kevin has continuously defied authority and has shown no class and no respect.” Byron then asks about Owens talking about everything he does is being for his family. Finn retorts with He is a man of actions and “Kevin is a man of many words, but whether he backs them up with actions is uncertain.”
Byron brings up the ladder match challenge from Owens, but Balor’s response didn’t really answer if he accepted or not, but was more implied with his comment. The interview ended with Saxton asking about the demon making an appearance in Brooklyn. Finn appeared to be focused on his match. This promo was similar to a Jake “the Snake” promo. In regards to Balor not speaking loudly, but more calm with a focused demeanor.
Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder - the Hype Bros Zack Ryder & Mojo Rawley
The crowd was hyped for the Hype Bros and stayed that throughout the match. Mojo started this one off, but tagged his partner quickly. Ryder delivered a big flapjack. Ryder fails to capatilize due to a distraction from Wilder. Wilder and Dawson then repeatedly tag in and out, while double teaming Ryder. Dawson continues with some loud kicks. There was nice slingshot suplex from Dawson. Dawson is eerily similar to Arn Anderson, in wrestling style and appearance. Ryder is able to make the tag and Mojo takes control of the match. Wilder tagged his way into the match at the same time, but Mojo is too much to handle.
Mojo tags Ryder. Ryder entered the ring giving a big ruff ryder from the middle rope, while Mojo lifted Wilder into the air. Ryder gets the pinfall, but Wilder and Dawson came in after the match to attack the winners of the match. Wilder and Dawson connected a big shatter machine following the match. All four wrestlers had great chemistry with one another and their partners. The tag team division in NXT is gaining strong ground for when Enzo and Colin Cassady or different team gets called up to the main roster.
Winners by pinfall:
The Hype Bros Zack Ryder & Mojo Rawley
The Vaudevillains are shown in William Regals office following this match. This is the kind of attention a strong tag team division needs. The main roster could benefit from a tag team revolution similar to the current “Divas revolution.” Regal is discussing their championship match from last week. Aiden English discusses how they would never harm a lady and only show chivalry. Regal announces they will have a rematch for the NXT Tag Team Championships at NXT: Takeover in Brooklyn against the NXT Champions Blake & Murphy. Regal ended the interview stating he will “find a way to contain Alexa Bliss.”
We then see a tale of the tape with Samoe Joe and Rhyno for tonight’s main event. This was awesome because it gave a realism to the match. It made it appear more as a fighting contest than a professional wrestling match. This set the viewing audience to expect a battle from these two.
There is another vignette of Bull Dempsey working out in the gym, but this time he’s doing awesome. It shows him being dedicated and working hard. It also showed him struggling to flip a giant tractor tire. The gym began to cheer him on and he successfully flipped he tire. It was great to see Bull get a payoff with him appearing as a force to be reckoned with.
Rhyno - Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe came out to new music and it was much better than the first theme he was given. Rhyno ran to the ring ready to start the match. The two lock-up to a standstill. Both men give a series of arm wrench reversals. Joe throws Rhyno against the ropes as both men go for a shoulder tackle both men stand strong. Rhyno then bounces off the ropes and can’t knock the big man down. Joe ricocheted off the ropes and was able to send Rhyno crashing to the mat with a huge shoulder tackle. It was awe inspiring to see this exchange between these two behemoths. Joe then takes control of the match, but Rhyno continues to fight back with a big chop and Joe responds with a huge chop of his own. Rhyno runs at Joe, but Joe throws him in between the ropes. Joe then bursts with a ball of energy and does a fast suicide dive through the ropes.
The commentators refer to Joe as a “wrecking ball.” Rhyno gives another big chop in the corner of the ring. Joe gives Rhyno an irish whip to the opposite corner and rushes him with a big back elbow, followed by a quick enziguri kick. The crowd then gives a big “Joe’s gonna kill you” chant. Rhyno gives Joe more and more chops, with Joe returning a head butt with every one of them. Rhyno is able to connect with a spinebuster. Rhyno is then on the receiving end of an S.T.O. from Joe, but both men take a bit to return to their feet. Big running boot from Joe, followed by a running senton. Rhyno showed his strength by giving a big somoan drop to Samoa Joe. Joe is able to climbs the turnbuckle and launches himself from the ropes with big boot. Joe then goes for a submission, but Rhyno reversed it into a belly to belly.
Joe reversed a gore and Rhyno reversed another submission attempt from Joe. Rhyno sets Joe up in the corner with himself on the top turnbuckle. Rhyno then gets another enziguri to the head, followed by a muscle buster from Samoa Joe for the finish. This match had a great intensity to it. The chemistry between these two competitors was undeniable. This was Samoa Joe’s best match since debuting NXT. These two showed their experience by telling a great story within the ring with little to no promos prepping the match between the two. Samoa Joe should give Baron Corbin a run for his money if given the chance.
Winner by pinfall:
Samoa Joe
The commentators ended the night plugging next week’s NXT main event, Becky Lynch - Bayley in a number one match for the NXT Women’s Championship.
This week’s episode of NXT promoted NXT: Takeover in Brooklyn in a big way. There were several matches announced for the NXT special live from the WWE Network the night before Summerslam. Several storylines also continued to the next chapter, with some questions unanswered. The episode also ended publicizing next week’s main event. More viewers should be engaged with the storylines going into NXT: Takeover. This week’s episode was a great example of how to build toward a climax. Time will tell how many of NXT’s current generation of wrestlers will make it to the main roster and become a big name in this business. One thing’s for sure though, if WWE continues with this path great things are sure to follow.