WWE NXT Spotlight: 10/4/17 By Kurt Zamora (Strong vs. McIntyre)
Welcome one and all to the latest installment of the NXT Spotlight here at TJRWrestling. We have a huge main event as Roderick Strong is getting his title match against Drew McIntyre. We also have another big debut as Lio Rush will be appearing in NXT for the first time tonight. It looks to be a solid show so let’s get to the action.
Ruby Riot vs. Billie Kay & Peyton Royce
This is designated to be a tag match but Ruby is once again going it alone to start. Billie starts for her team. She grabs an armbar and then pulls at Ruby’s hair before Ruby escapes and dropkicks her. Billie goes straight to Peyton and tags her in. Ruby goes for a quick pin but Peyton kicks out. Ruby follows up with an arm drag and bodyslam. She knocks Billie off the apron and then lands a senton splash on Peyton. Peyton manages to get Ruby in the corner and tags in Billie. Ruby grabs Billie in a crucifix pin but Billie kicks out. Billie blocks a headscissors attempt and sends Ruby face first to the mat. Billie beats on Ruby in her corner and then tags in Peyton. Peyton does more of the same. Billie back in and they hit a double team front suplex. Billie with a pin but Ruby kicks out. As it went the last time, Nikki Cross now comes through the crowd and looks like she will join the match. Peyton has a chinlock on Ruby for awhile and Ruby finally gets out and debates whether to tag in Nikki, but she does and Nikki comes out and is a house of fire on The Iconic Duo. Billie is the legal woman and Nikki hits a cross body and then a Scorpion death drop. Peyton comes in and knocks Ruby off the apron and then gets a legal tag. She hits a facebuster on Nikki that lands on Billie’s knee, but Nikki kicks out. They go for another double team but Ruby pulls Peton to the outside. Nikki mounts Billie and isn’t really doing anything, but it’s Nikki so it’s awesome. Ruby makes a blind tag and takes out both opponents with a top rope dropkick. Ruby then nails Billie with her version of the Pele kick and gets the win.
Winners: Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross
K-Tank’s Take: Nikki’s mannerisms make anything entertaining. Not sure if this will lead to a full time partnership for Nikki and Ruby, but this has been an interesting storyline over the last few weeks.
We get a recap of Lars Sullivan taking out Oney Lorcan last week before Danny Burch made the save. We go to “earlier today” at the PC and Lars is asked about Burch asking for a match next week. Lars says he’s in control of everything he does. Yet his opponents are afraid of his uncontrollable rage he has. His advice for Burch is for Burch to be in control of his fear.
We now go to “earlier today” outside the arena where Zelina Vega is asked about Johnny Gargano getting a rematch against Almas. Vega says that Gargano is just heartbroken still. She knew how to pull the strings at Takeover, but Almas beat Gargano fair and square. So Gargano can get another shot, but it’ll be the same result. With every win for Almas, he gets closer and closer to the title shot that he deserves. She’s then asked how she’ll feel if Almas loses this time. She says they brought relevance back to Gargano by allowing him in the same ring, but that lifeline is now done.
It’s announced that in two weeks it’ll be Sanity vs. The Undisputed Era in a six man match.
Aleister Black vs. Lio Rush
Rush gets a very good reaction as his name appears on the jumbo tron. As Black makes his way to the ring though, The Velveteen Dream attacks Rush from behind and goes up top and lands his Purple Rainmaker elbow drop. He tells Black to enter the ring with him and as Black gets in the ring in his unique way, TVD leaves the ring. TVD yells at Black to acknowledge him and says he will make Black say his name.
Winner: No Contest
K-Tank’s Take: That was actually the best that elbow drop has looked, but because of who is next on the show and because that I don’t think he can land it that well every time as the past has shown, he still needs a new finisher.
Kairi Sane vs. Aliyah
Sane gets a great reaction as expected. After some counters, Sane comes off the ropes with a forearm smash. Aliyah kicks out of a pin and then ends up landing a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. She follows that up with kicks to the spine and then a seated neckbreaker. Aliyah with another backbreaker and then bends Sane over her knee the wrong way. Sane tries charging Aliyah in the corner but she moves and Sane hits the ring post. Aliyah with some good strikes but then Sane comes off the ropes with a spear. Aliyah is able to kick out at two. A series of chops from Sane. Sane lays out Aliyah and goes up top for her “insane elbow” as Mauro calls it and she lands it like only she can for the win.
Winner: Kairi Sane
K-Tank’s Take: THAT is how to do an elbow drop from the top and is why TVD needs to change his finisher. Sane is so much fun to watch. She is already set for the Fatal 4 Way in Houston and next week we’ll begin to see who will fill the other three spots.
NXT Title Match
Roderick Strong vs. Drew McIntyre (c)
Roddy has a new theme and entrance and it is a vast improvement. 22 minutes left in the show after the big match introductions, so this is going to get PLENTY of time and should be fantastic. Drew overpowers Roddy to begin with as they do a couple tie ups. Roddy with a side headlock but Drew shoots him off and then drops him with a shoulder tackle. We go to commercial.
We return with Roddy in control but as he tries to jump over a charging Drew, Drew kicks him straight in the solarplexes and goes on the offensive. Huge overhead belly to belly throw by Drew that sends Roddy to the floor. Drew drops Roddy throat first over the guardrail. Roddy with a kick as he gets back in the ring and then comes off the apron with a knee strike to Drew on the floor. Drew climbs up the stairs to get back in the ring but Roddy comes from behind and does a backbreaker on the stairs. That looked pretty nasty and gets a “holy shit” chant. They get back in the ring and another backbreaker which leads to a two count. Another backbreaker and another two count. Roddy with chops and stomps in the corner and then a couple knee strikes to the ribs. He then has an abdominal stretch on. Drew escapes and tries to come off the top rope but Roddy catches him in mid-air with a dropkick. Drew kicks out at two once again. Roddy with a reverse curb stomp and then a seated dropkick for another two count. He tries to fireman carry Drew but Drew fights out. Roddy with elbows and goes for a suplex but Drew reverses it into a throw. We go to commercial.
We come back to both men battling but Drew kips up and lands a massive big boot. They trade boots in the corner until Drew lands a reverse Alabama Slam for a two count. Drew goes for Future Shock but Roddy blocks it. Roddy connects with an Angle Slam but Drew still able to kick out. Drew hits a Sky High out of nowhere as Roddy comes off the ropes but Roddy kicks out. Drew gets Roddy on the top rope and was looking for something but Roddy shimmys down and goes for a sunset flip powerbomb. Drew won’t come down though. Roddy goes back up top and nails a top rope superplex. Drew kicks out again. Drew wants the fight brought to him and now both men just trading haymakers. Roddy with a tiger bomb and still can’t get the three. Drew gets up and lands a nasty headbutt. Drew gets Roddy up in a fireman’s carry and carries him all the way to the second rope and comes crashing down with White Noise. Roddy barely gets his foot on the rope to break the pin. Drew sets up for the Claymore kick but Roddy catches him with a trio of knee strikes instead. Roddy with a suplex and then comes off the ropes with his Sick Kick… Drew kicks out! Both men end up on the apron and Roddy knees Drew off and then jumps off. Drew catches him in a powerbomb position and tosses him spine first into the ring post. He rolls Roddy in the ring and drills him with the Future Shock DDT. Drew looks Roddy right in the face and looks discouraged that he has to go this far to win and goes to set up for the Claymore kick. He lands it squarely and Drew gets the three count in this war.
Winner: Drew McIntyre retains
Post match, Drew and Roddy shake hands. As Roddy makes his way up the ramp, The Undisputed Era show up and congratulate Roddy on his effort and tell him that he belongs with them. Roddy looks confused, but doesn’t turn it down. They leave and then he leaves behind him. Drew is on the turnbuckles hoping Drew won’t make that decision as our show ends.
K-Tank’s Take: That was a battle. What a hell of a match. Great near falls, very believable, and now we have the question after if Roddy will join The Undisputed Era in hopes of staying in the title picture. It’s quite the dynamic. Go out of your way to watch this match.
Next week we have the Gargano vs. Almas rematch, Sullivan vs. Burch, and Nikki Cross vs. Peyton Royce vs. Liv Morgan for the first of three spots in the Fatal 4 Way at Takeover: Houston. Until next time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… but if you do, name it after me!