WWE NXT Spotlight: 6/7/17 By Kurt Zamora

Welcome one and all to another installment of the NXT Spotlight here at TJRWrestling. As we still feel the effects of Takeover in Chicago, all eyes are now focused on Brooklyn as that has officially been announced as our next Takeover event. Tonight we have two big main events so let’s get right to the action.

Heavy Machinery vs. Victor Andrews & Lars Sullivan

Sullivan is the former Dylan Miley who has been having the storyline of getting angry at his partners after his match and taking them out. He’s a freakishly thick guy. Sullivan and Knight start the match. Knight gets shot off after a side headlock and tries a shoulder tackle and it doesn’t budge Sullivan. Sullivan comes off the ropes with a clothesline and drops Knight. Knight catches him with a big boot in the corner and then a dropkick. He gets caught coming off the ropes though and Sullivan drills him with a powerslam. Andrews wants the tag and Sullivan gives it, but of course Andrews immediately gets locked in a bearhug. Dozovic tags in and Knight tosses Andrews to him so he can continue the bearhug. Andrews actually gets out but gets promptly tossed halfway across the ring with an overhead belly to belly. Knight tags in and they do a belly bounce on Andrews’ head and then time comes for the piggyback slam splash that they’re now calling The Compactor, and that’s the match.

Winners: Heavy Machinery

Post match, Heavy Machinery make it known they want the Authors of Pain. Meanwhile, Sullivan is stewing on the apron and finally snaps and delivers some stiff forearms and knees to Andrews. He then lifts him up and drops him in a modified urinagi. He picks Andrews back up and has a modified torture rack on Andrews before finally dropping him and leaving.

K-Tank Take: I really like Heavy Machinery. They continue to find their groove and they’re just a fun team. Also “The Compactor” is a great name for that finisher. I think we can pencil them in vs. AOP in Brooklyn. I also like this gimmick with Sullivan. Is he crazy, is he not? He’s got a unique look to say the least. They’ve got plenty of time to build him, no need to rush.

We go to a recap of last week when No Way Jose returned to help even the sides against Sanity. We then go to exclusive video after the show last week where Killian Dain is asked about having to take on No Way Jose this week. Dain says that after what just took place, no one is safe.

Playing The Bobby Roode Lottery

Roddy comes out in street clothes to address the fans in Full Sail. He says the last 7-8 months, maybe even the last year has been a roller coaster for him. He’s now in NXT, he’s got a beautiful fiance, and a new baby boy. Something that took his breath away was the reaction he got from the fans for accepting him after the story he held within because he didn’t want to be judge. He thanks us all with all his heart for accepting him. A “Thank you Roddy” chant starts. He said the reason he came here was the NXT Championship. His life has never been better and he’s never been more thankful, but there’s one thing he wants and needs and that’s the NXT Title. He says it’s no longer Roddy vs. The World, it’s Roddy, his wife and son vs. The World. He’s now more driven and more passionate than ever to be the NXT Champion.

A GLORIOUS theme song cuts off Roddy and here comes the NXT Champion who is mockingly crying at Roddy’s speech. Bobby mocks the speech as well and says things are going well for him right now. He’s winning matches… finally. He’s got a marginally hot fiance and his kid seems to be ok. Roode gets it though. Roddy wants to be on the marquee with the champ. Diapers are expensive, they’re not buying themselves so he wants to play the Bobby Roode lottery. Roode says it doesn’t work like that in his NXT. You don’t just click your heels for a title shot, you have to earn one. Roddy is a good hand, so he should just stay in his lane. They can then one day take a selfie together so he can show his kid down the road, hey there’s the champ with your old man. So don’t play the Bobby Roode lottery because he’s just not man enough to win.

K-Tank’s Take: That was one of Roode’s best promos in NXT, which is saying something. He came off ultra cocky and arrogant and now it’s on Roddy to respond accordingly.

Nikki Cross is backstage now and she wants Asuka and Ruby Riot. She wants to play a game with them. Short and sweet, but greatness since it’s Nikki. Next week is the Elimination Triple Threat Match for the NXT Women’s Title.

We now get a new Authors of Pain vignette with Paul Ellering narrarating their story. This one lists out some of the new challengers the AOP expect to face in Heavy Machinery, Sabbatelli/Moss, & Sanity. He says for them to accept their fate because it’s in the hands of AOP.

Quick Plug: Be sure to check out this week’s TJRWrestling Podcast which you can find on the homepage of the site as always. I had the pleasure of joining John and Rey to talk about Extreme Rules, Raw, & Smackdown this week. I also threw in a hot opinion of the current state of NXT while discussing Bayley. It was a fun conversation, thanks for having me guys!

Sarah Logan vs. Peyton Royce (w/Billie Kay)

Logan is Crazy Mary Dobson from the indies for those not aware. She’s been on NXT before but I feel like her name was Sarah Bridges at that time. I want to thank Peyton for helping me get over the loss of Eva Marie. They tie up and Peyton gets a boot in the corner but as they go to the other side, Logan cuts her off and then drops her with a fireman’s carry. She gets Peyton in a armbar but Peyton shoots her off and comes back with a spinning heel kick. She goes for a pin but Logan kicks out. That kick landed cleanly. Peyton has an STF of sorts on Logan, which Logan breaks momentarily but Peyton turns it to a duo of suplexes and then a Death Valley Driver, but again Logan kicks out. Logan tries to fight back and lands a headbutt followed by a dropkick. Then she connects with a series of chops and lands a Shining Wizard, but this time Peyton kicks out. Peyton comes back with flurry of knee strikes and then goes for the Fisherman’s Suplex and that gets the win.

Winner: Peyton Royce

K-Tank’s Take: Solid match, but nothing we haven’t seen before. Obviously based on last week, Peyton and/or Billie have a showdown coming with Ember Moon. I do love me some Peyton though.

We go to last week where Andrade Almas was upset by Cezar Bonani. We then go to footage after the show where Andrade is going out on the town with a trio of women. The newly signed Thea Trinidad shows up and asks him if this is what he’s become. He happily says yes it is, and she slaps him in the face and walks away disgusted.

Hideo Itami vs. Oney Lorcan

I look forward to Lorcan matches now because they are always hard hitting. Plus he’s helping Zack Ryder rehab at the PC, so I’m naturally appreciative of that. After Itami’s entrace, we go to video where Hideo Itami is asked after failing to win the NXT Title if he is going to go back to Japan. Itami says no. He worked too hard to get here. One match isn’t going to make him go back to Japan. He’s not done here.

Both men feel each other out early with holds and counterholds. They get to the ropes and it looks like a clean break but Itami slaps Oney in the face and then drills him with a clothesline. Oney fights back a bit but gets drilled with a couple knees to the sternum. Itami goes for a pin but Oney kicks out. Itami gets caught with a boot in the corner and then Oney follows that with a running blockbuster. He goes for a pin but Itami kicks out. Itami ends up on the floor and Oney wants to do a dive but he gets caught by a kick to the face. Itami goes to the top rope and hits a clothesline on Oney. Another pin but Oney kicks out again. Oney tries to steal a win but doesn’t work. He then lays in chops on Itami and Itami just keeps begging for more. Itami tries the GTS but Oney gets out and then lays into Itami with slaps to the face. A big European uppercut, followed by another one and Itami crumbles to the floor. Oney goes to the top rope and comes down with a somersault senton. Itami is out. Oney gets him in the ring and Itami plays possum that he’s hurt and instead just kicks Oney in the kneecap. Itami comes with some stiff shots of his own this time and then connects with the GTS. He decides that’s not enough and he connects with a second one. That’s still not enough and he wants a third one as the fans start to turn on Itami. Here comes Kassius Ohno to stop Itami from going for a fourth GTS. Both men shove each other, Ohno shoving Itami to the ground, and Itami finally decides to leave but stares a hole through Ohno. The ref calls for the bell and he’s thrown this match out.

Winner: No Contest

K-Tank’s Take: Well there’s the heel turn for Itami that has been rumored for a few weeks now. With the new influx of stars being primarily babyface (Ohno. McIntyre, Strong, Black), I think this is a perfect move for Itami. He needs something new and he needs something that will prevent him from getting lost in the shuffle after losing to Roode. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes.

We get a vignette for Drew McIntyre that they’ve shown before when he’s not on the show. He’ll be in action next week.

We go to Ember Moon backstage who is asked about the match next week for the NXT Women’s Title. She says she remembers her first opportunity at the title but she lost. She gets a second chance in Chicago but then gets hurt. So she had to take a step back and reevaluate. She knows first that she needs to take care of the dilemma that is Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. But she’ll be watching that title match and when she gets her next opportunity, she’ll make sure it’s THE opportunity.

No Way Jose vs. Killian Dain (w/Sanity)

Sanity has new theme music. It might just be for Dain though because it has a bit of Irish tones to it. It’s pretty good though if it sticks for the group as a whole. It’s definitely not a downgrade. 10 minutes left in the show as the bell rings. EY and Wolfe actually leave the ringside so it’s one on one to start. Dain starts in charge and drops Jose with a shoulder tackle but Jose gets right back up and attacks Dain. He goes for a side headlock but Dain runs him into the corner. Jose comes back with a clothesline and a forearm and then goes to the top rope. He nails an ax handle but Dain doesn’t go down. Jose hits a big boot that sends Dain to the floor, but again still on his feet. We go to commercial.

We return to both men battling in the corner. Jose tries to pick up Dain but that doesn’t work and Dain comes of the ropes with a cross body. Dain proceeds to club Jose repeatedly and then drops a quad of elbows. Dain then works over the neck of Jose. Jose gets out but gets caught in Wasteland and then a running senton. Dain goes for a pin but Jose kicks out. Dain with forearm smashes to the chest and then an elbow to the top of the head. He sets up Jose for Ulster’s Plantation but Jose slides out and then connects with a series of right hands. Double hand chops follow that. He once again tries to get Dain up but still doesn’t work. Dain misses an attack in the corner and Jose hits a clothesline. He finally gets Dain up and nails a TKO but Dain kicks out. Jose sets up for the wind-up pitch punch but Dain headbutts Jose and then lays him out with a shotgun dropkick. He goes for Ulster’s Plantation again and this time he connects and it’s over.

Winner: Killian Dain

K-Tank’s Take: It’s nice to see someone from Sanity win a one on one match with no help. This was a pretty decent match between two big guys. I actually missed Jose as I like his character and you can tell he works to improve each time out in the ring.

That’s it for this week. I’ll be back next week for that big NXT Women’s Title match. Until next time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… but if you do, name it after me.