WWE NXT Spotlight: 9/28/16 By Kurt Zamora

Welcome one and all to this week’s installment of the NXT Spotlight here at TJRWrestling. We are solidly on the way to NXT Takeover: Toronto, but with still almost two months to go, there is plenty of time for storylines to develop. Last week, Samoa Joe issued a threat to William Regal for the entire roster to beware, a potential new challenger stepped up for Asuka’s women’s title and we saw the debut of Cedric Alexander. Let’s see what happens tonight!

We open with William Regal inside an empty Full Sail arena. He announces that they are bringing back the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The finals will take place at NXT Takeover: Toronto and the first round matches will start next week on NXT.

Tye Dillinger vs. Angelo Dawkins

Dillinger gives Dawkins a snapmare to start and deems it a 10 immediately. Dawkins regroups and starts to beat Dillinger in the corners. Dillinger fights out and then comes off the ropes with a flying forearm. Inverted atomic drop and then a short arm clothesline follows suit from Dillinger. Now he stomps a mudhole in the corner while the crowd yells that each kick is a 10. He connects with a Russian Leg Sweep and then sets up for the Tye-Breaker and that’ll do it.

Winner: Tye Dillinger

Post match, we have a GLORIOUS interruption as Dillinger makes his way up the ramp. Bobby Roode makes his way out and says that match was simply…. impressive. Roode says Dillinger isn’t quite a 10 yet but he’s known Roode for a long time. He came to NXT for many reasons, but the #1 reason was to compete and to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The crowd immediately starts chanting “Glorious 10”. Roode says he hasn’t made many friends, which sucks cause he needs a partner. Not just any partner though, the “Perfect Partner”. Roode knows how close Dillinger was to Dusty, so he can just think about how good it’ll sound to hear, “The winners of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Bobby Roode and Tye Dillinger”. That is perfectly GLORIOUS. Roode offers his hand and Dillinger accepts it. We have our first time entered. Think of the PERFECTLY GLORIOUS possibilities!

Andrea is backstage with Hideo Itami who is asked about his match tonight with Lince Dorado. Itami is looking forward to it because Dorado is a great competitor and has heart. Something that Austin Aries doesn’t have. Aries is a coward and a baby. Maybe he needs to put Aries to sleep again.

The Ealy Brothers vs. The Revival

The Ealy’s are actual twins and Corey Graves says they are the first twins ever to be in the Performance Center. The Revival can’t even make their way to the ring before Samoa Joe comes charging through them and gets in the ring and proceeds to decimate The Ealy Brothers. Multiple punches and senton splashes as he lays them out. The Revival take a bow and leave without incident. Joe grabs a mic and says these two are the first victims due to Regal not being able to make a decision. He warned Regal, and Regal chose not to heed it. The beatings will continue until Regal’s decision making improves. He wants Nakamura or hand him his championship. Joe send one of the Ealy’s into the steel steps for good measure on his way out.

Winners: No Contest

Mandy Rose vs. Ember Moon

Mandy looks in phenomenal shape and has a nice swagger to her. She seems to be picking it up. Too bad I don’t expect this to last long. They get in a shoving contest and then Ember Moon leapfrogs Mandy, but turns around and is drilled with a forearm shot. Ember comes back with a couple stiff kicks and then a fallaway slam. She jumps off the second rope with a cross body block, but Mandy kicks out. Mandy manages to fight back and drops Ember with a bicycle knee. She goes for a pin but Ember kicks out. Mandy goes for a neck vise of sorts and then clotheslines Ember when she manages to fight out. Ember catches her in a rollup but Mandy kicks out. Ember goes for a headscissors but Mandy counters it and slams Ember down stomach first. Nice move there, but Ember kicks out again. Ember from out of nowhere, catches Mandy with a headscissors that ends up faceplanting Mandy into the turnbuckle. This allows Ember to go up top and it’s time for the Total Ecllipse!

Winner: Ember Moon

Quick Plug: Be sure to check out this week’s episode of The Match Beyond podcast as I bring back Hank & Mark McAllen to discuss the three big topics on my mind revolving around WWE. We discuss who is currently winning the brand extension, what indy stars needs to be in WWE within the next year, and what will WWE look like when HHH finally/hopefully takes over for Vince McMahon. This is a great conversation so check it out!

Team #DIY is backstage and are asked about the message they sent to The Revival at the CWC Finals. Gargano says it felt good to send The Revival running. Something is missing though and they have a checklist full of items to be filled. Ciampa says that last year they entered NXT last year in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. It’s very important to them. So winning that is #1 on their checklist. #2 is beating The Revival. #3 is then winning the NXT Tag Team Titles.

Another Sanity vignette is shown.

The Authors of Pain (w/Paul Ellering) vs. Jesus Yurnet & Jonathan Cruz

Akam starts the match and destroys both of his opponents in the corner. He sends Yurnet into his corner and tags in Rezar. They double team Yurnet and then force Cruz into the match. Rezar gorilla press slams Cruz to the floor, who takes a nasty fall. They set up Yurnet for the Russian Leg Sweep/Lariat combo and thanks for coming guys.

Winners: The Authors of Pain

Post match, Paul Ellering grabs a mic and says the first chapter started with the arrival. The next chapter will unleash a plethora of pain. For now, that is all we need to know.

William Regal is asked in his office for an update on Shinsuke Nakamura but he doesn’t have one. He then is asked for any input in the teams in the Dusty Rhodes tag team classic. Regal says that is info he has, but then Blake & Murphy interrupt him. They say they better be in the tournament but then start arguing with each other. Regal tells them to leave as they clearly don’t have things in order with each other.

Asuka vs. Liv Morgan

Oh please Wrestling Baby Jesus let this be one of the happiest moments of my NXT Spotlight career. If Asuka can send Liv’s head into the third row with one of her kicks, I’ll be the biggest Asuka fan ever. Liv shoves Asuka after a tie-up, which doesn’t work. Liv tries a dropkick but it doesn’t work. Asuka beats Liv down and then hooks on a modified Rings of Saturn and Liv taps out already.

Winner: Asuka

Andrea is in the ring with Asuka now and asks who is the next victim for Asuka? Asuka says no one is ready for her.

The first Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic match is announced for next week. Cedric Alexander and Andrade “Cien” Almas will team up against The Revival.

Hideo Itami vs. Lince Dorado

Sign of respect to start as both men shake hands. Both men counter hammerlocks to start and then Dorado snapmares Itami and then hits him with a Hurricanrana. He tries to leapfrog Itami, but Itami puts on the breaks. They both counter moves and then end up at a stalemate. Dorado hits a couple kicks and then comes off the top rope with a springboard, but Itami catches him with a kick in mid air. Itami lands a couple more kicks while Dorado is down. Itami goes to the second rope, but Dorado dropkicks him and sends Itami to the floor with it. Dorado hits a wrecking ball dropkick and then comes off the second rope with an Asai Moonsault to the floor that takes out Itami. We go to commercial.

We come back to Dorado in control. Itami tries to fight back but Dorado counters with a spinning heel kick that doesn’t catch Itami flush. Dorado goes for a pin but Itami kicks out. Itami stops a charging Dorado in the corner and then comes off the top rope with a big clothesline. Itami lands some kicks to the chest of Dorado and then hits a flurry of shots. Dorado gets out of the corner and hits Itami with a hurricanrana but Itami kicks out. Itami wants the GTS but Dorado gets out. Dorado goes for a couple pin attempts, but Itami gets out. Dorado lays out Itami with a kick while Itami was on his knees. Dorado goes for a Shooting Star Press but Itami moves. Itami wastes no time and kicks Dorado right in the head and then follows up with a skateboard dropkick in the corner. It’s time for Dorado to Go To Sleep and Itami picks up the win.

Winner: Hideo Itami

Post match, Aries blindsides Itami. Aries lays waste to Itami. He shoots Itami off the ropes but Itami counters and goes to kick Aries’ head off but Aries thinks better of it and grabs the ropes and leaves the ring. Itami is not happy as our show comes to an end.

K-Tank’s Final Takes

• Squash Match City tonight. With the exception of Mandy Rose and Ember Moon, none of the matches were competitive, even the main event. I never like episodes like this, but it’s going to happen from time to time.
• Speaking of that match, I really liked what I saw from Mandy Rose. Unfortunately for her, she seems like a gold version of Eva Marie. So I don’t know what will separate her from the pack. She’s definitely improved though, which is all you can ask. Considering the winner of Tough Enough, Sara Lee, has yet to be seen.
• Great to see the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic return. I’m sure the field will be loaded this year. I guess The Revival don’t have to defend their titles for the foreseeable future though.

Next week the Classic starts so I’ll be here with all the details and action. So until next time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. If you do though, name it after me.