WWE NXT Spotlight 03/16/16 by Kurt Zamora
Welcome one and all to another installment of The NXT Spotlight right here at TJRWrestling. As we celebrate the day of our great Stone Cold, I hope you’ve got a couple Steveweisers handy to crack open as we have an action packed episode this week. If you haven’t watched Roadblock yet, the NXT Tag Champs The Revival, managed to retain their titles in a fantastic match over Enzo and Cass. With that adversary out of the way, tonight we crown a new #1 Contender between American Alpha and The Vaudevillians. If you’re ready for some NXT, gimme a hell yeah!
We get a recap of the two out of three falls match from last week that Samoa Joe won against Sami Zayn.
Sami’s Going to Takeover After All
Our show officially starts with Sami Zayn coming to the ring to speak to the Full Sail crowd. The crowd gives him a huge ovation as he starts to speak. Sami says he didn’t just have a match with Samoa Joe, he had a war with Samoa Joe. It’s normally a humbling thing to announce to everyone you came up short, but Sami isn’t embarrassed. It could’ve gone one way or another, but they battled for nearly an hour. Sami’s goal hasn’t changed though. Whether it’s Joe or Finn, his goal is still to become the first ever two-time NXT Champion. What’s nagging at him though is the fact that Takeover: Dallas is going to be huge. It’s WrestleMania weekend and NXT is going to steal the show. He feels like a proud papa in NXT… and then William Regal cuts him off.
Regal comes out and says he agrees Sami deserves to face one of the best in the world at Takeover: Dallas. So that night, his opponent will be NXT’s newest signing. He points to the Titontron and it scrambles and then magically appears The King of Strong Style himself, Shinsuke Nakamura! Holy Shit. The crowd goes nuts to the point where it’s hard to heard what Nakamura says. I’m pretty sure it was, “NXT. Sami Zayn. I will see you in Dallas. I’m Shinsuke Nakamura.” Don’t shoot the messenger if I’m wrong. Sami Zayn is in disbelief in the ring.
The Hype Bros vs. Angelo Dawkins and Kenneth Crawford
Great reaction for The Hype Bros. Mojo and Crawford start the match. They tie up and Mojo powers him down to the mat and now Dawkins tags in. He misses a punch and Mojo hits him with a cross body. Mojo traps Dawkins in the corner and then chop blocks him in the knee. He bodyslams Dawkins down and then Ryder tags in and hits a splash slingshotting over the top rope. He sends Dawkins into the corner and then hits the double knees. He goes up to the middle rope and hits a dropkick that knocks off both of Dawkins’ headbands off. Ryder wants to go for the Broski Boot but Crawford pulls his partner to safety. Ryder ends up dropkicking them both. He celebrates on the outside but now Dawkins gets the advantage and takes Ryder out on the apron. He stomps on Ryder and then sends him to the ropes but Ryder counters with a facebuster. Both men get the tag and Mojo takes out Crawford with a trio of shoulder tackles. He knocks Dawkins out to the floor and then hits an avalanche splash in the corner followed by a wild discus punch. He tags back in Ryder who sets up for the Hype Ryder and this match is over.
Winners: The Hype Bros
We get a video package talking about NXT’s appearance at the Arnold Classic in Ohio.
Dana Brooke and Emma are walking backstage and run into Deonna Purrazzo. They talk about how Deonna didn’t listen to them about Asuka. Tonight though is going to be a lot worse for her because the Emmalution can’t stop and won’t be stopped. Deonna says it can be stopped and she’s going to do it. Dana and Emma mock her and then leave her with the Dana head pat.
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Emma (w/Dana Brooke)
The Broski’s Favorite Diva mocks Deonna as the bell rings and then after a shove from Deonna, she kicks her straight in the stomach and then attacks her in the corner. She grabs the hair and then snapmares her down. Now she steps on the hair and pulls up on Deonna’s arms. Emma yanks on the hair again in the ropes as the ref gives her the five count. Emma then drops her with a clothesline but refuses to pin her. She gets Deonna back in the corner and stomps her in the corner. Deonna gets hooked in the Tree of Woe and then Emma lifts her up to kick her directly in the spine. Now it’s time for an Emma Sandwich as the crowd is fully behind Emma, which obviously isn’t supposed to be the case. Emma knees Deonna in the spine and then hooks a headlock on. Deonna hits a jaw jacker to get out of it and then hits a couple axe handles along with a running knee. She runs at Emma in the corner but Emma moves and turns it into the Tarantula in the corner. That all sets up for the Emma Lock which makes Deonna tap out almost immediately.
Winner: Emma
We get a recap of the Roadblock NXT Tag Title Match between The Revival and Enzo/Cass. That version of The Shatter Machine to win the match was insane.
The Vaudevillians are backstage getting ready for their match tonight.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Jesse Sorensen
Ciampa starts immediately with a dropkick and then stomps him in the corner. He lowers both his kneepads and then delivers a running knee in the corner. Ciampa goes for another move but Sorensen counters. Before Sorensen can do anything, Ciampa lays him out with a lariat. Sorensen manages to kick out though and Ciampa goes to the headlock. Sorensen fights out and then lays out Ciampa with a picture perfect dropkick. He chops Ciampa in the corner and then goes for the 10-count punches. Ciampa gets out of it and manages to tuck Sorensen’s head in the corner and delivering a high knee. That was quite creative. Sorensen goes to the match and Ciampa then goes to his rollover armbar submission and Sorsensen has to tap out.
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa
American Alpha are backstage getting ready themselves for their match.
We get a recap of last month’s NXT Women’s Title match between Bayley and Carmella that led to the tag match we’re having tonight.
Eva Marie and Nia Jax vs. Bayley and Asuka
Your favorite diva and mine, The Red Queen of NXT, is looking spectacular in black tonight. Corey Graves’ announcing during the introductions of this match is spectacular. He is so good. Nia and Bayley start the match. They tie up and Nia overpowers her immediately. She goes straight to the tag for Eva, who promptly gets drop toe hold down by Bayley who brings her over to Asuka. Eva tries to crawl away but Asuka stops her. Eva gets desperate and slaps Asuka, which was a bad idea. Asuka proceeds to become my least favorite diva as she unloads on Eva with chops and fists and kicks and who knows what else. She hits her Rear View move and then tags back in Bayley. Bayley shoots Eva into the ropes and Nia makes a blind tag as Eva gets dropped with a shoulder tackle. Nia comes from behind and hits a Samoan Drop on Bayley. Eva tags right back in and gets Bayley in a submission hold. Bayley gets out and rolls up Eva who kicks out. Bayley goes for another pin but Eva breaks free and then goes right up to Asuka and slaps her again. Asuka gets angry and tries to get in the ring but the ref stops her. Bayley hits a back suplex in the meantime but Nia comes in for the pin and tries to break it up. She ends up giving Eva a legdrop instead. Bayley then dropkicks her out of the ring as Asuka kicks Eva in the back of the head from the apron. Eva stumbles right into a Bayley to Bayley and the champ picks up the win.
Winners: Bayley and Asuka
William Regal’s music hits and maybe he’ll suspend Asuka for her actions against Eva Marie. Instead he talks about how Bayley sets the standard for what a champion should be. He says Asuka has elevated what was already the standout division in NXT. With that, he’s very pleased to announce that the #1 Contender for Bayley’s title at Takeover: Dallas will be Asuka. Asuka smiles as Bayley looks nervously at her.
We get a recap of Austin Aries’ debut and the attack by Baron Corbin. Now, Tom Phillips and Corey Graves are conducting an interview with Austin Aries. They ask Austin why will his official in-ring debut be different than his debut two weeks ago. Austin thanks them and the NXT fans for making him feel welcome. Dispite all the contract offers, NXT is where he wanted to be. Funny enough is when he was laid out after Corbin attacked him, Regal apologized to him. Aries said to Regal, don’t be sorry for me, be sorry for Corbin. Corbin made a mistake when he attacked Aries from behind. He should’ve asked his advice instead. Corbin wants to be a champion but Aries has been a champion everywhere he’s been. He’s big, he’s strong, and his insecure. He’s insecure about wrestlers like Aries. Aries didn’t get where he is by being 6’6″ and 300 pounds. He earned it by being the greatest at what he does. He’ll find out at the biggest stage, Takeover: Dallas, that all he’ll earn is a lesson. A lesson that Austin Aries is the greatest man to ever live. In Dallas, it’ll be a great day to be great and it’ll be a bad day to be you.
#1 Contenders Match: American Alpha vs. The Vaudevillians
Simon Gotch and Chad Gable start the match. Gable shows off his amateur skills immediately and then hooks the leg of Gotch. Gotch gets Gable in a double knuckle lock and then turns it into a headlock. Gable judo throws Gotch and then tries to drag Gotch to his corner. Gotch hits a sitting enziguri and manages to tag in Aiden English. Aiden gets judo thrown himself and now Jason Jordan tags in. American Alpha tag team both of The Vaudevillians as Aiden gets dropkicked by Jordan and then both men clothesline Gotch over the top rope. We go to commercial with The Vaudevillians needing to regroup.
We come back with Gotch getting a front face lock on Gable. Aiden tags in and they chop and punch Gable down. Aiden goes for the pin but Gable kicks out. Aiden hooks the headlock now. Gable tries to fight out but Aiden cuts him off and then goes for another pin. Gable kicks out again and Gotch now tags back in. He hits a knee drop and then goes for a neck wrench. He goes for a pin himself and Gable kicks out again. Aiden back in and kicks Gable in the corner. He snapmares Gable down and then goes for a running knee drop but Gable moves out of the way. Aiden manages to tag Gotch, who cuts off Gable. Gable manages to sunset flip Gotch and send him into the ropes. This gives Gable enough time to tag in Jordan who comes in like a house of fire. Dropkicks to both of his opponents and then sends Aiden sky high. A head and leg Tazplex follows that to Gotch and then a high angle back suplex to Aiden. Jordan with the spear in the corner to Aiden and American Alpha go for their finisher but Gotch pulls Jordan out. Aiden goes off the second rope with a senton and misses. Gable goes for a rolling German Suplex with the bridge but Gotch makes the save. Jordan and Gotch fight on the apron and down to the floor, which leads to Jordan hitting an overhead belly to belly on the floor. Aiden goes for a quick small package in the ring but Gable kicks out. They get up and Gable walks into a sitout powerbomb but he kicks out again. Jordan back in the corner and tags himself in. Aiden misses a shot in the corner and Jordan hits the spear in the corner again. This time American Alpha are able to hit their tossing back suplex combo and they pick up the win!
Winners: New #1 Contenders, American Alpha
American Alpha celebrate in the ring as our show comes to an end.
K-Tank’s Final Takes
– So our loaded Takeover: Dallas card is set. In what will surely be the highlight of WrestleMania weekend, we will see: Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe for the NXT Title, Bayley vs. Asuka for the NXT Women’s Title, The Revival vs. American Alpha for the NXT Tag Titles, Austin Aries vs. Baron Corbin, & Sami Zayn vs. Shinsuke Nakamura. As I predicted last week, a card where Aries vs. Corbin is the “weakest” match on the card is nothing short of stacked. I honestly feel sorry for Balor and Joe having to follow all of that.
– I wish American Alpha and The Vaudevillians could’ve gotten some more time but that was a fun match after the commercial break.
– Great introductory promo/interview by Aries tonight.
– I really liked how Ciampa was presented tonight. I hope he gets something more of substance after Takeover: Dallas.
– The Hype Bros are the odd team out right now. It will be interesting to see where they fit after WrestleMania weekend, considering I expect Enzo and Cass to move up to the main roster. I also expect American Alpha and The Revival to be a long term program.
Next week’s main event will be Emma vs Asuka and I will be here covering it all. Until next time, if you’re going to do it, do it Strong Style.