Reviews

WWE NXT Spotlight: 9/27/17 By Kurt Zamora

TJR Wrestling

Welcome one and all to the latest and maybe greatest installment of the NXT Spotlight here at TJRWrestling. Tonight we get the in ring debut of Adam Cole BAY BAY, as he’ll take on Eric Young in what should hopefully be one hell of a match. Let’s get right to it!

We start with William Regal backstage, who lets us know the next NXT Women’s Champion will be determined in a Fatal 4 Way match at Takeover: Houston. Kairi Sane has already claimed one of those spots and the other 3 will be determined in matches that begin in two weeks. He wishes everyone luck.

We then go ringside where Sanity is storming the ring from all sides of the arena. Eric Young has the mic and talks about those that wants to walk in here and make a mark. They’re looking at the group that defined making a mark. They’re gonna find out in this universe, time and space doesn’t exist. The only thing that matters is the chaos. The only thing for sure is change. Tonight, Adam Cole is gonna get taken to the edge of sanity.

Oney Lorcan vs. Lars Sullivan

Before Oney goes out, he’s asked backstage about the upcoming match. He says that he doesn’t like Lars and doesn’t like that Lars thinks he can do whatever he wants. Oney says screw that and let’s see what he does with Oney Lorcan.

Oney has clearly developed a good following, which is well deserved. Oney starts with a side headlock but Lars shoots him off and levels him with a shoulder tackle. Oney tries to come back with a dropkick but it barely phases Lars and he just tosses Oney like he was nothing over the top rope. Oney gets back in the ring and gets a running start and lands some back elbows that drop Lars to the floor. Oney goes for broke and dives over the top rope, but Lars catches him and drops him hard on the apron. They get back in the ring and Lars hits a big splash in the corner. He goes for a second but Oney cuts him off. Multiple slaps to the face of Lars and he tries to knock Lars down but Lars ends up clotheslining him inside out and outside in. He connects with his modified urinagi (Mauro calls it a side spinebuster) and gets the win.

Winner: Lars Sullivan

Post match, Lars decides he wants more of Oney. He goes for a second finisher but Danny Burch comes out and prevents anythign else from happening and drags Oney out of harm’s way.

K-Tank’s Take: That may have been short, but it was a hell of a lot of fun. Oney was the perfect opponent. Small enough to make all of Lars’ offense look legit, but believable as a tough guy to give Lars a fight. I would LOVE to see Oney and Burch become a tag team.

We go backstage to Ruby Riot in the locker room who is notified that the Iconic Duo has requested a rematch against her and her friend? Nikki Cross. Ruby cuts it off and says Nikki is not her friend. But if Peyton and Billie wants a fight, she’ll give them a fight. If Nikki decides to show up, she better stay out of Ruby’s way.

Heavy Machinery vs. Demetrius Bronson & Patrick Scott

Tucker Knight and Scott will start. Scott was trained by Steve Corino according to Mauro. Knight shows off his power early as he gets a knuckle lock and lifts Scott in the air. Scott tries to chop Knight but it does nothing and Knight double underhook suplexes Scott into his corner. Bronson makes the tag, as does Otis Dozovich. Heavy Machinery proceed to double team Bronson. Bronson ends up mounting Otis from behind and Otis breaks it, but Bronson comes back with two dropkicks. Otis doesn’t go down, so Bronson goes to the second rope and Otis catches him and drops him with an overhead belly to belly. Bronson tags in Scott and Otis proceeds to run him over. Otis does a little jig, I literally don’t know how else to describe it, and drops an elbow. That was…surreal. Tucker tags back in and they have Bronson laid out and pick up Scott for The Compactor and Bronson is gonna feel that in the morning.

Winners: Heavy Machinery

K-Tank’s Take: What we typically see from them. They’re definitely overshadowed now with a crowded division and the Street Profits coming up strong. Not to mention TM61 is due back any time now. Hopefully we can get some mid-card tag feuds started.

We go to “earlier today” at the PC where William Regal is meeting with media. Johnny Gargano walks out and Regal calls him over. Regal says that he got Gargano’s request for a rematch against Andrade “Cien” Almas. Regal has granted that and it’ll take place in two weeks. Gargano thanks him and Regal then tells the media that he has something really special planned for Takeover: Houston and he thinks we’ll all like it.

We now go to a different “Earlier today” inside the PC this time as Roderick Strong is asked about his title match next week against Drew McIntyre. He says he’s preparing for this match like he does every other match. Drew talks about knocking him out, but he knows that Roddy keeps getting up and keeps going forward. He’s battled for this and he’s been close before, but it’s going to be different this time. He is indestructable. Roddy can say this is all buisness, but all business is personal and the best business is very personal. He’s going to come at Drew with everything he has and nothing will stop him until he hears, “and new NXT champion, Roderick Strong.”

Vanessa Borne vs. Liv Morgan

Both women have screen in screen interviews talking about the opportunity that is available now for the NXT Women’s championship. Both women escape bodyslam attempts and then Liv takes down Bourne, who bridges out of a pin attempt. Liv does the Matrix escape and then hits a leaping legdrop. Borne goes back on the offense though with multiple forearms to the back and then a snap suplex. Borne then repeatedly slam’s Liv’s face into the mat. Borne then stomps on both of Liv’s hands. Liv fights back out of the corner and goes for a pin, but Borne kicks out and then comes back with a clothesline. Liv with a drop toe hold that sends Borne into the ropes. After a pin attempt, Liv with a facebuster and a step up enziguri. She hits a double foot stomp in the corner and then a running bulldog. Liv comes off the ropes again and lands a running codebreaker of sorts and that gets the win.

Winner: Liv Morgan

K-Tank’s Take: I was doing just fine all these weeks without Liv on my TV. This was not a very good match. We’ll see in two weeks who gets opportunities at the 3 spots open for the NXT Women’s Title Match.

We go back to last week’s interaction between Aleister Black and The Velveteen Dream. After that we catch up with Black earlier this week getting a workout in at the PC. He’s then asked about TVD. Black says in this age of individuality, there’s always one that thinks they’re more unique. Left to their own devices, they have nothing but to antagonize the hoard. They all want recognition. He refuses to acknowledge a child who holds his breath to get what he wants. If by being bizarre, Patrick (Black referred to him as such) thinks he can get in Black’s mind, he’s sorely mistaken.

Fabian Aichner vs. Kassius Ohno

Aichner was in the CWC but we haven’t seen him in NXT. Mauro states that he’s put on weight since then as he wanted to move to the heavyweight division. Both men with their attempt at an armbar to start with the advantage. Ohno with a dropkick that sends Aichner to the floor and Ohno wants a dive, but Aichner comes back in and Ohno does his flip over the top rope to the apron. Aicher nailed with a big boot but then catches Ohno with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Ohno goes to the outside and Aicher then does a single jump springboard dive off the top rope taking out Ohno. That was really impressive. They get back in and Aichner holds Ohno up with a delayed vertical suplex. Aichner does some trash talking and wants a powerbomb but Ohno reverses it into a small package. Ohno goes for a leapfrop but Aichner catches him in midair and hits a running powerslam. Aichner goes for a double springboard moonsault, but Ohno manages to move. Ohno charges with an elbow strike and then a shotgun kick. Ohno with a suplex and follows that with his spinning bicycle kick and that gets the win.

Winner: Kassius Ohno

K-Tank’s Take: Tremendous showing by Aichner. That’s maximizing your minutes. Ohno always feels like the odd man out, so we’ll see where he goes now that the Itami feud is over.

We go to Drew McIntyre who talks about his match next week with Roderick Strong. He says the only person who stepped up to him for a title match was Roddy. Roddy is good enough to be champion, but since Drew is the champion, it may be his first title defense but it won’t be his last.

We get a video package showing Kairi Sane’s perfomance in the Mae Young Classic.

Adam Cole (w/The Undisputed) vs. Eric Young (w/Sanity)

Before the match, Cole grabs a mic. He asks how did this place survive without them? There’s something new in the air that he can feel. He wants everyone to feel it too. That feeling is change, it’s a shock to the system. Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly, & Adam Cole. They are untouchable, unstoppable, and undisputed. This is their era. We go to commercial.

Only 7 minutes left as the bell rings. That’s a shame. EY with a double leg takedown and punches from a mount position. They get in the corner and Cole with a shot while the ref wasn’t looking but EY comes right back. EY with a spinning neckbreaker but then gets distracted by O’Reilly and Fish. Cole comes from behind and takes advantage. He works over EY in the corner and then whips him hard into the opposite side. Cole with a knee to the gut and tries to dump EY to the floor but doesn’t work at first. Cole then with an enziguri to get him all the way to the floor. Sanity and Undisputed face off on each side of EY but no action. Cole gets EY back in the ring and wears him down with a chinlock. EY fights out but then gets caught in a sleeper hold. EY manages to turn into a back suplex. EY cuts off a charging Cole twice and then lands a clothesline and a jumping neckbreaker. EY does the Ric Flair bump to the apron and then goes to the top rope but Fish/O’Reilly distract him. Sanity and Undisputed finally all come to blows and EY decides to dive onto everyone and takes them all out. EY rolls back to the ring but gets caught with a leg lariat by Cole and that picks up the win.

Winner: Adam Cole BAY BAY

That ends our show.

K-Tank’s Take: Very basic match with the one cool spot of EY’s dive. The story is with all the chaos between both groups, Cole was able to steal a win. I would’ve taken out both group’s promos and added more to the match, but there’s obviously more to this story.

Next week is our huge NXT Title match so I’ll be here to cover that. Until next time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… but if you do, name it after me!