NXT
Date: May 22,
2014
Location:
Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida
Commentators:
Renee Young, Alex Riley, Rich Brennan
Reviewed by Tommy Hall
It's the go
home show for Takeover next week so odds are we're going to be seeing
a lot about Tyson Kidd tonight. The other main story coming into
tonight is the last chance for Bo Dallas. He's facing Big E. tonight
and if he wins, he gets a future shot at the NXT Title. If he loses
though, he's done in NXT forever. The ending should be fairly
obvious at this point, but the reaction should be awesome. Let's get
to it.
We open with
a recap of Bo's issues leading up to his match tonight.
Bo Dallas
vs. Big E.
They're
starting fast this week. Bo has the Bolieve music and Titantron
already. Before the match Bo talks about the love he has for his
fans and accepts the title of Mr. NXT. Big E. is already doing the
Five Count again and he's instantly more interesting than he's been
for months. Dallas is quickly sent to the floor before a shoulder
drops him with ease. Big E. does it again but this time he follows
Bo to the floor. Dallas comes back with a knee to the ribs to take
over and the big man is sent into the steps.
Back in and
we hit the front facelock on Big E. before taking a break. We come
back with Big E. driving shoulders into Bo in the corner but walking
into a suplex for two. The fans are singing He's Got The Whole World
In His Hands as Bo stands over Big E. Back up and Big E. makes his
come back with a clothesline and belly to belly suplex before just
running him over again.
There go the
straps but Bo counters the Big Ending into a reverse DDT for two. The
bulldog out of the corner is countered and Big E. gets two more off
an overhead belly to belly. The Warrior Splash hits knees though and
Bo nails the double arm DDT for another near fall. Bo throws his
wrist tape down for a distraction and takes off the buckle pad, which
is how he beat Big E. for the title last year. This time though Bo
is splashed into the steel and the Big Ending means no more Bo at
8:50.
Rating: C.
The match was fine and a nice callback to the first meeting last
year. There was no way Dallas was going to win here though and this
is the right call all around. Big E. getting a win is always nice to
see after he's been crushed on the main show for so many months.
Dallas
of course cracks after losing while the fans sing the Goodbye Song.
The freaking out continued during the break with the fans changing BO
LEAVE! Bo grabbed the mic and said he strongly dislikes every one of
them. They should have just
bolieved and now they can just leave. Bo finally walks out.
The
announcers talk about Kidd vs. Neville for a bit.
Kidd says
he'll win next week.
Sami Zayn
says the loss last week isn't going to stop him. Tyler Breeze comes
in and they mock each other until Sami challenges him for a match.
Tyler agrees for Takeover.
Paige vs.
Tamina Snuka
Non-title.
Paige fights out of the corner to start and kicks Tamina in the ribs
before screaming in her face. The fans chant Superfly as Tamina
slams Paige down a few times. A running clothesline gets two on
Paige and a forearm to the back puts her down. Tamina hooks a
torture rack but it's more like a fireman's carry. Paige fights back
and knocks Tamina to the mat, only to pull her right back up to knock
her down again. Tamina picks her up and sits Paige on the top rope
before knocking her ribs first onto the apron. Back in and the
Superfly Splash hits feet and a small package gives Paige the pin at
6:00.
Rating:
D+. Dull match but Paige's
formula is starting to work. She's getting beaten down because she's
not that experienced but finding a way to win by exploiting a single
mistake her opponents make. I've heard worst styles for someone to
use and she's WAY over down in NXT as well. Why she needed to lose
to Alicia Fox is beyond me, but I'm not as smart as WWE writers.
Adam
Rose vs. Camacho
Rose
charges right at him but gets hammered in the corner instead. That's
fine for Adam as he charges at Camacho and takes him down with right
hands. Camacho fights out of the corner and stomps Rose down. Fans:
“PARTY POOPER!” A release butterfly suplex and a legdrop gets
two but Rose gets all ticked
off and Hulks Up. He hammers away with right hands and nails a
spinebuster to set up a bronco buster. What appeared to be a Diamond
Cutter is shoved away and Camacho runs to the floor. Camacho just
takes the countout at 3:55.
Rating:
D+. Rose isn't bad in the ring
but he's all character for the most part. I have no idea why Camacho
of all people isn't allowed to be pinned here, unless there's going
to be a rematch next week at Takeover. If that's the case, why have
this match here at all? I don't get this one.
NXT
Womens Title Tournament Semifinals: Natalya vs. Sasha Banks
Charlotte
isn't sure who she wants to win because she doesn't want to embarrass
her friend but wants her to succeed. Natalya grabs a quick rollup
for two and runs Sasha over for the same. Banks comes back with a
running knee in the corner as Charlotte is cheering, but it's not
clear for whom. We hit the
chinlock on Natalya as Renee says Sasha realizes she's lost all her
matches since Charlotte has been back. Not
quite but the Divas don't always make a ton of sense. Natalya comes
back with a butterfly suplex of her own and Sasha goes to the floor
holding her leg. Back in
and the Sharpshooter sends Natalya to the finals at 4:00.
Rating:
C-. Not bad here and points to
NXT for trying to set up a possible way Sasha could win. Natalya vs.
Charlotte is the better choice but this wasn't the worst match in the
world. Charlotte has the character down and is getting better in the
ring. She doesn't need Sasha but splitting them up isn't the best
idea in the world either.
We
run down the Takeover card. Zayn vs. Breeze is a #1 contenders
match.
Adrian
Neville vs. Curt Hawkins
Non-title.
Renee goes to the same bagel shop as Hawkins. I love little lines
like that as they sound like they could happen and we haven't heard
them a million times before. Neville
easily takes him to the mat but Hawkins pops back up and nails a
clothesline to the back of the head. A suplex gets two on Adrian and
we're already in the chinlock. Neville
fights up and hits a missile dropkick to set up the Red Arrow for the
pin at 2:23.
Post
match Tyson comes out and says he's the toughest competition Adrian
has ever fought. Adrian
says NXT is the future so he's the future. Therefore, at Takeover,
the only member of Kidd's family to take home some gold will be
Tyson's wife. “As usual.” Kidd stares him down to end the show.
Neither came off like a heel here.
Overall
Rating: C+. This show did the
one job it had: it made me want to see Takeover. The show isn't
going to have anything groundbreaking and most of the matches are
predictable, but I have no doubt that NXT is going to put on at least
an entertaining show. Kidd is a great choice to have an awesome
match with Neville and the rest of the card should be good as well.
Nice show here but it's just setting up next week.
Results
Big E. b. Bo
Dallas – Big Ending
Paige b.
Tamina Snuka – Small package
Adam Rose b.
Camacho via countout
Natalya b.
Sasha Banks – Sharpshooter
Adrian
Neville b. Curt Hawkins – Red Arrow
Remember to check out my website at kbwrestlingreviews.com and head over to my Amazon author page with wrestling books for under $4 at:
http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6
Therefore, at Takeover,
ReplyDeletethe only member of Kidd's family to take home some gold will be
Tyson's wife. “As usual.”
GET THE ALOE! GET THE ALOE! GET THE ALOE! #HeelTurn #YetAnotherUnnecessaryHashtag
Watched this show for the first time in forever, wasn't too impressed. The talent is decent, the presentation is professional yet intimate but 5 matches in 1 hour is way too much.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side Cody Rhodes wife is absurdly good looking.
"Big E. getting a win is always nice to see after he's been crushed on the main show for so many months."
ReplyDeleteBig E is much less interesting on the main shows but he's been booked pretty strong in terms of wins and loses. At least I think?
Not so much lately.
ReplyDelete"5 matches in 1 hour is way too much"?
ReplyDeleteSo, you want less wrestling on your wrestling show?
No, but 3 minute matches for developing talent doesn't help anyone.
ReplyDelete