WWE NXT Spotlight: 8/10/16 by Kurt Zamora

Welcome one and all to another installment of the NXT Spotlight here at TJRWrestling. We have just two episodes left of NXT before we hit Brooklyn for the huge Takeover event that will take place the night before SummerSlam. This show will have a lot to live up to, both in terms of living up to the standard last year’s Brooklyn show set, and the fact this is the first Takeover show since the draft and this one will be missing the likes of Finn Balor and American Alpha. It’s a new era not just on the main roster but NXT as well. Tonight as we prepare for that show, we have a contract signing between Bayley and Asuka for their match in Brooklyn. We’ll see if we have any other matches signed for the show, although if you’ve been on WWE Shop today, they released the event card shirt that revealed the entire lineup. Nice job guys!

We start the show with Bobby Roode exiting William Regal’s office and he thanks Regal for his time and seems quite pleased as Regal leaves for the contract signing.

Contract Signed for Brooklyn

As we start the show officially, William Regal is in the ring and sets the stage for the NXT Women’s Title Match between Bayley and Asuka. Bayley comes out first as the challenger. A guy in the front row went for a hug and Bayley went for a high five. I love funny awkward moments like that. Asuka comes out next and doesn’t get the normal favorable response she gets. With both women in the ring, Regal talks about how Bayley has wanted this rematch for a long time, so it’s time for her to sign the contract to get her wish. Before she signs though, Bayley grabs the mic and runs down all the names of the women she has gone against in NXT and she was seen as the underdog against all of them. That was until Brooklyn last year when the underdog became the champion. Brooklyn was where her dream came true and the title became a part of her. Dallas was her nightmare though, when she saw Asuka holding the title. Looking back, she wasn’t ready for that match. She wasn’t prepared for how tough that match was going to be. But now, she’s ready. Asuka is the toughest woman she’s ever faced, but the “Asuka mystique” is gone to Bayley. She’s going back to Brooklyn and she’s going to do something that no one has done yet, beat Asuka and become the two time NXT Women’s Champion. With that, she signs the contract.

Asuka grabs the mic now and tells Bayley she doesn’t have what it takes. Asuka says she will end Bayley’s dreams where they came true, but she respects Bayley. She goes to shake Bayley’s hand and Bayley grabs the mic and says the last time Asuka was in a contract signing, she ended up on the ground. So if she doesn’t want history to repeat itself, take that hand and sign the contract and make this match official. Both women get in each other’s face and Asuka finally signs the contract. William Regal makes it 100% official and then when Asuka goes to shake her hand a second time, Bayley slaps it away and leaves the ring. Asuka stares her down and Bayley storms back in the ring and gets right in Asuka’s face. Asuka holds the title high and then leaves the ring.

The Authors of Pain (w/Paul Ellering) vs. Rob Ryzin and Adrian Nails

They are still going without names for The Authors of Pain, so I’ll continue with the real names. Gzim starts out and obliterates Nails until Sunny comes into the ring and does the same. Ryzin is reluctantly tagged in and proceeds to get a double avalanche splash in the corner. The Authors of Pain pick up both of their opponents in a powerbomb, run them back first into each other, and then slam them down to the mat. They they sent up Ryzin for the Russian Leg Sweep and Lariat combo and that’s the match.

Winners: The Authors of Pain

Post match, The Authors of Pain go to inflict more damage on Nails but then TM61’s music hits and the tag team comes running down the aisle. They bumrush The Authors of Pain and get them backed into a corner, but it doesn’t last long as Nick Miller gets powerbombed himself and then Shane Thorne gets laid out with the Sidewalk Slam and Big Boot combo.

Shinsuke Nakamura is backstage with Andrea and is asked about Samoa Joe’s threat about taking him out before Brooklyn. Is he worried? Nakamura says he will find Joe when he wants to.

Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Angelo Dawkins

Corey Graves delivers a great zinger about how Dawkins compares to himself to Lebron James, but Graves thinks he’s more Kevin Durant. Tom Phillips asks why and Graves says that it’s because he’s almost 100% sure that if Dawkins loses tonight, he’ll ask Cien to be his tag partner. The match starts with Dawkins getting a wristlock but Almas escapes easily. Almas shows off his athleticism and then hits a hurricanrana running off the ropes. Dawkins rebounds though and hits a stiff right hand, followed by an avalanche splash in the corner. Then he puts Almas in a headlock. Almas fights out and then gets a sunset flip on Dawkins, but Dawkins kicks out. Almas dodges an attack in the corner and follows up with a springboard dropkick. Almas beats Dawkins down in the corner and then hits his running double knees. Almas decides to use a new finisher this time though as he puts Dawkins in a hammerlock DDT and picks up the win.

Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas

Post match, it’s GLORIOUS! Here comes Bobby Roode with the new greatest theme song in WWE. He’s showing his approval for Almas as he gets in the ring and grabs a mic. He congratulates Almas, but not for the win. It was an ok win, impressive, maybe a little sloppy and minor league, but he won and that’s all that matters. He’s congratulating him for something else. Roode talked to William Regal a little earlier and he said that NXT Takeover Brooklyn needed to be more sophisticated. It needed more star power. That night needs something… GLORIOUS. So he’s happy to tell him that Regal agreed and so Roode has a match at Takeover against Almas. He knows Almas has a hard time understanding English, so he’s going to say to say this slow. The 15,000 fans that will be in Brooklyn, they won’t be paying to see Almas, they’ll be paying to see Roode. That night will be GLORIOUS!

Backstage now, and Austin Aries is in William Regal’s office. He’s talking about nutrition and then tells Regal why he’s really there. Takeover Brooklyn. They’re called special, but how special could the show be if Aries isn’t on the show. Joe has a match, Roode has a match even though he’s only been here five minutes. So when does Aries get his match? Regal agrees that he does need a match and he’s going to have that match against someone that he’s avoided, No Way Jose. Aries isn’t happy, but he says he’s not avoiding Jose, he’s ignoring him. He’ll show Jose in Brooklyn though.

Plug Time: If you missed the announcement last week, I am bringing a new podcast to TJRWrestling. I can now say that The Match Beyond will debut on Monday, September 5th. I have some guests lined up and will be announcing them at my Twitter page as they’re confirmed. I have some fun and unique guests lined up to start including a former WWE and ROH Tag Team Champion that will be announced in the next few days. I hope you’ll come check it out!

Billie Kay vs. Liv Morgan

For those new to the show, I cannot stand Liv Morgan. She’s an annoying version of Carmella. If you think Carmella is already annoying, well my statement still stands. Billie starts with a shoulder tackle and then a fireman’s carry. She gets Liv in an armbar and then shoots her off, but Liv then drops her with a shoulder tackle. Liv then gets Billie in a spinning headscissors, but then Billie drops her on the top turnbuckle and hits a big forearm smash. She continues the beating in the corner and proceeds to choke Liv with her boot. She drops Liv with a gutwrench suplex and then goes back to the arm. Liv tries to fight back but Billie grabs the hair and slams her down. Liv fights back though and gets a monkey flip in the corner. She tries a big kick but Billie ducks, pushes her into the ropes and when Liv comes back, Billie hits her with her big boot for the win.

Winner: Billie Kay

We get a recap of the match of the year candidate from last week’s CWC between Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. If you have not watched this match, do so immediately. We then go back to Regal’s office and Regal complements them on their match. He hopes their battle against each other doesn’t affect them as a tag team because at Takeover Brooklyn, they are getting the Tag Title shot against The Revival. Gargano says almost a year ago it was Regal introducing them as the hottest free agents and they proved why now. Ciampa says he understands the question, but they’re family and families fight. The difference is, families don’t get to choose, tag teams do. To this day, he chooses Gargano as his partner. Gargano says The Revival are big on tradition, but they’re going to take those tag titles in Brooklyn. Ciampa says they will become the next tag team champions and thanks Regal for the opportunity.

We get another Ember Moon vignette. She will debut at Takeover Brooklyn.

Tucker Knight and Patrick Clark vs. Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano

Clark and Gargano start the match. Clark starts with a headlock, but Gargano escapes and turns it into a hammerlock. Gargano takes Clark down and turns it into a wristlock. Ciampa tags in now and takes over the arm. They shoot Clark off, Ciampa with a drop toe hold and Gargano with a double foot stomp to the back of the head. Ciampa tries to shoot Clark off, but Clark blocks it. So Ciampa just chops the hell out of him instead. Clark tries to send Ciampa into Knight, but Ciampa hits Knight instead. Clark comes from behind though and takes out Ciampa and then manages to tag in Knight. Knight takes out Ciampa and then comes full speed at Ciampa with an avalanche splash. Ciampa manages to come back with an enziguri though and tags in Gargano. Gargano hits a dropkick and then kicks him straight in the face while seated. He ends up on the apron and spears Knight through the ropes. Ciampa tags back in and takes out Clark with a running knee and then hits Knight with a running knee of his own. Gargano tags back in and they hit their drive by assault on Knight and that’s the match.

Winners: Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano

We get a recap of Hideo Itami’s return to NXT last week. He will be back in action next week.

Andrea is backstage with Mojo Rawley and he is asked about facing Samoa Joe tonight. Mojo says he’s not that guy. That’s twice that some 900 pound heavyweight has gotten in his business. Tonight isn’t about getting hyped, it’s about getting even.

Samoa Joe vs. Mojo Rawley

Mojo bullrushes Joe and lays in the punches in the corner. Joe fights back and chops Mojo. Mojo ducks a punch and then drops Joe with a series of shoulder tackles until Joe goes to the outside to recover. Mojo follows him out there and they continue to brawl until Joe sidesteps Mojo and he ends up eating the steel steps. They get back in the ring but Mojo manages to fight back. Both men continue to trade blows. Mojo gets sent into the corner and gets hit with a running back elbow and enziguri combo. Joe snapmares him down, chops him in the back, kicks him in the chest and then drops a big elbow. Mojo manages to kick out from a pin attempt. Joe hits Mojo with another back elbow off the ropes. He goes to set Mojo up for the Muscle Buster but Mojo fights out of it. Mojo comes off the second rope with a clothesline and then hits another one. Joe comes out of nowhere with the Coquina Clutch though. Mojo fights him off and then hits Joe with a big Full Nelson slam. Joe kicks out at two. Mojo rushes Joe in the corner twice with splashes, but on the second one, Joe catches him in the urinagi. Joe yells out for Nakamura and then locks on the Coquina Clutch on Mojo, who has to tap out eventually.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Post match, Joe locks on the Coquina Clutch again until Nakamura’s music hits. Joe is enraged, but before Nakamura can get in the ring, tons of security get in between both men. All of them go to hold Joe back as Nakamura laughs and mocks Joe. Nakamura grabs Joe’s nose, bcause why wouldn’t he? That was funny. Nakamura then smacks Joe in the face and continues to taunt Joe. Joe is desperate to break free as our show comes to an end.

K-Tank’s Final Takes

– Loved the fire shown by Bayley tonight. It’s a new side of her that she needed for this match and it worked perfectly. I expect one hell of a fight between these two in Brooklyn.

– Interesting dynamic between The Authors of Pain and TM61. Very different styles of wrestling but could be a lot of fun when they finally lock horns.

– The women’s match did nothing for me. Like I stated, I don’t like Liv Morgan, and as for Billie Kay, I know we’re not supposed to remember anything but I just can’t buy this angle they’re running with her. They’re making her “appearance” on Smackdown a big deal when she got squashed by Dana Brooke. It just takes me completely out of the character. I am intrigued by Ember Moon though as I know her well from the indies and she is really good in the ring.

– Really excited for Ciampa and Gargano’s shot at the tag titles against The Revival. I really think that match will steal the show.

– I know they want Almas to be a star in NXT, but I just don’t buy it. He comes across nervous. Maybe he’s still getting used to going without a mask, but I’m just not sold.

Next week will be the final show before Brooklyn, so we’ll see what build is left for Takeover. Until next time, Stay Hyped!