WWE NXT Spotlight: 9/6/17 by Kurt Zamora

Welcome one and all to the latest installment of the NXT Spotlight here at TJRWrestling. The calendar has officially turned to September and with no next Takeover officially announced yet, we start to clean up some of the loose ends left, while establishing new stars and programs as well. Two of those loose ends will be tied tonight as we have the blow off between Kassuis Ohno and Hideo Itami, along with finding out what the future holds for Asuka and her Women’s Title. Let’s get to the action.

We start with a video package highlighting the change in attitude in Hideo Itami and what led to this point tonight against Ohno.

Andrade “Cien” Almas (w/Zelina Vega) vs. Cezar Bononi

Vega joins the commentators at their table for this match. I’ll note if she says anything of interest. She starts off by putting Percy in his place, so I like her already. Almas lights up Bononi with a chop and then repeated kicks in the corner. Then he hits a dropkick and goes back to the kicks. Knee lift to Bononi but Bononi finally fights back with a couple clotheslines. Reverse atomic drop followed by a dropkick. Both men counter each other and Bononi traps Almas in a small package but Almas kicks out. Almas comes right back with a back elbow and then Bononi gets trapped in the corner and in the ropes, where Almas hits a Reality Check. Almas looks like he’s going for the running double knees, but Vega yells at him from the commentary table to finish Bononi, so he instead goes for his Hammerlock DDT and gets the win.

Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas

K-Tank’s Take: Vega is a good fit for Almas but still haven’t learned much about the partnership. Would like to see more development on that end. She didn’t say anything of substance either while at the commentary table.

We get a recap of last week’s events where Adam Cole and ReDRagon took out Drew McIntyre. We now go to Regal’s office where he says that he’s made it very clear to Cole and company that all the fighting takes place in the ring. They’re a part of NXT but everthing takes place in the ring only.

We go to outside of Asuka’s locker room where we await to hear from her. The Velveteen Dream shows up and says that he’s told everyone he would talk when it’s time to talk. It’s not time now, but he watched Takeover: Brooklyn and realizes he needs some experience so he will be talking… soon.

Lars Sullivan vs. Jax, Joe Black, & Max Stardom

Lars demands all three to get in the ring at the same time. The bell rings and he clotheslines two of them and then starts tossing everyone across the ring with various throws and suplexes. And then for some reason the feed on my stream just jumps way ahead. There’s a huge chunk of the show now missing. I apologize. I had to go to PWInsider to see what happened as I could not get the full episode to come on. Sullivan hit all three guys with his Urinagi and won.

Winner: Lars Sullivan

I’ll notate when I’m back to my own watching of the show, so this particular chunk is based on PWInsider’s recap. Sullivan continues his attack and then No Way Jose comes out. Jose gets on to him for attacking him in Brooklyn and then they start brawling, to which Sullivan gets the upper hand with another urinagi.

K-Tank’s Take: I apologize for the stream issues, I dunno what that’s about and has never happened to me. I know Sullivan is a mixed bag so far, I really like him but I’ve heard from people who can’t stand him. I say keep giving him time to grow.

It then went to Johnny Gargano who said that Brooklyn was memorable for him but he admitted he lost focus due to Zelina Vega’s actions. Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss show up and mock Gargano for being on his own and that he can’t make it on his own. Gargano says he doesn’t care which one it is, but he’ll take on either one of them.

A video package for Sonya Deville was then shown as she’s in action later tonight.

This is where my stream kicks back on, as we get a recap of Sanity being assaulted at the beginning of last week’s show. We then go to a video sent in by Sanity. EY says that Adam Cole and ReDRagon are going to look back at Takeover and realized this is a big mistake. Sanity doesn’t care about anything in regards to where they came from or what their plans are. Sanity only cares about one thing…. Chaos!

Zeda vs. Sonya Deville

Deville with a go behind takedown to start and repeats it multiple times. Zeda finally reverses it into a pin but Deville kicks out. Deville right back to the go behind waistlock. Zeda with a back elbow and comes off the ropes but Deville stops her dead with a spear. Zeda with a weak kick that Deville doesn’t sell and then delivers a kick of her own. Deville with a nasty looking shining wizard and immediately goes to the triangle armbar for the tapout.

Winner: Sonya Deville

K-Tank’s Take: Not much to this one. Until we know what the situation is with the title, it’s hard to say who’s in line for a big push or a title shot.

We go to “earlier today” with Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch working together as a tag team with William Regal watching at ringside. He looks impressed. Ruby Riot shows up and asks Regal for a handicap match against The Iconic Duo. Regal says in good conscious he can’t put her in a handicap match, but he will allow her to pick a tag team partner and they will go against Billie Kay and Peyton Royce.

No Disqualification Match
Kassius Ohno vs. Hideo Itami

Itami immediately goes to the outside to avoid Ohno but when they both get back in, Ohno drops him with a shoulder tackle and body slam. He follows that up with a legdrop. Ohno with a vertical suplex and then goes for a pin but Itami kicks out. Itami sends Ohno to the ropes, who flips over the top rope, but Itami follows him and sends him into the turnpost. Ohno falls hard to the floor and Itami follows him. Itami drives Ohno’s head into the steel steps a couple times and then stands on Ohno’s head. Both men get back in the ring and Itami unloads with a series of kicks. Ohno is down in the corner and Itami comes at him with a hesitation dropkick. Itami with a pin but Ohno kicks out. Itami goes under the ring to find a weapon and decides on a steel chair. Ohno tries to take it away from him and is successful. He throws it at Itami and goes to deliver a Roaring Elbow but Itami throws the chair at the elbow. Ohno goes down in pain as we go to commercial.

We return with Itami stomping on Ohno in the ring. Ohno starts to “Hulk up” after enough of the kicks and then hits a big boot of his own. A couple of clotheslines and then a shining wizard, followed by a senton splash. Ohno goes for a neckbreaker but Itami blocks it. Itami goes for the GTS but he can’t get Ohno up. Ohno instead gets Itami up for the GTS but then drops him on his feet and lands a Roaring Elbow. Itami goes to the floow with the impact. Itami tries to crawl away but Ohno is on him. Another massive elbow to the jaw of Itami. They’re at the top of the stage now and Ohno goes for a suplex but Itami blocks it and reverses it into a fisherman’s suplex on the ramp. Itami stomps away at Ohno and then sets up the chair in Ohno’s face and drills another hesitation dropkick right into the chair. Itami drags him out for a pin but Ohno somehow kicks out. Itami starts yelling for respect but Ohno just slaps him. Ohno goes for another Roaring Elbow but Itami tries to kick him with a low blow. Ohno catches the leg but Itami just pokes him in the eyes. He gets Ohno up for GTS but Ohno slides out and then low blows Itami himself and this time he’s able to land that last Roaring Elbow and gets the hard fought win.

Winner: Kassius Ohno

K-Tank’s Take: Little bit of an odd finish with the babyface using the low blow to win, but it’s no DQ so allowable and Itami obviously went for it first. Makes me think maybe this storyline isn’t done yet, but it probably should be. Itami could use a big win if this heel turn is going to be completely effective.

The Legend’s Future

Asuka comes out with the title on her shoulder, and no sling or visible apparatus to show that she was hurt even though Mauro acknowledges her broken collarbone. The crowd gives her a “Thank you Asuka” chant. She says she’s fought a lot of great challengers and she loves NXT. She has grown so much here and is grateful for NXT. William Regal is in the ring and says that all she has done is defended the title with honor. She’s been willing to risk everything to defend the title, which was evident in Brooklyn. He can easily say she’s one of the greatest champions in WWE history. The NXT Universe already notices that, but others have taken notice now too. So he and Asuka have started negotiations with both general managers on Raw and Smackdown. That’s a bittersweet moment as Asuka will be stepping down as NXT Women’s Champion. This is a wonderful opportunity for Asuka and everyone else will now learn… and Asuka finishes the line by saying, “no one is ready for Asuka!”

Another standing ovation and “thank you Asuka” chant as the entire roster of NXT, all the women front and center, come out and give her a standing ovation as well. Even the likes of Billie Kay and Peyton Royce are there clapping for her. Asuka says, we are NXT, she is NXT, and wherever she goes, NXT comes with her. Ember Moon now comes through the roster and makes her way to the ring as Asuka’s music plays. It cuts off and Ember smiles and goes for a handshake. Asuka goes to return it but Ember pulls away and both share a laugh and then a big hug between the two. Asuka starts to get emotional as Ember raises her hand. Now here comes the man himself, Triple H with a rose bouquet and he gives Asuka a big hug and presents her with the flowers. He trades the flowers for the title. He raises Asuka’s other hand with the title. He grabs the mic and says, “One last time, the undefeated and 523 day reigning NXT Women’s Champion, ‘The Emperess of Tomorrow’ Asuka.” Very cool moment and VERY well deserved as we go off the air with everyone chanting “Thank you Asuka” one last time.

K-Tank’s Take: I made a note that Asuka had both of her arms raised during that segment, which just seems noteworthy since they said the injury was a broken collarbone. She did not seem to be favoring anything either. Is the injury legit? It really makes me wonder. I’m not a doctor, so maybe you can raise your hand/arm with a broken collarbone, but I just thought it was worth mentioning. Nonetheless, it’s probably the right decision. She really was a legend in NXT and that last line by HHH in the ring, really punctuated just how great she was. HHH had gone on record before Takeover: Brooklyn that the one person he couldn’t afford to lose was Asuka. She was the rock he needed for that women’s division. It looks like he’s got faith on those that have worked to establish themselves over the last few months and then bringing in those from the Mae Young Classic, I think the division is going to be a-ok.

Thanks for joining me this week. Next week will be Ruby Riot’s shot against Peyton and Billie and we’ll also get a UK Title Match between Pete Dunne and Wolfgang. Until next time, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do… but if you do, name it after me!