(SPOILERS AHEAD)
PROMO: Bayley comes out to celebrate her victory over Sasha Banks in their incredible rematch for the Women’s Championship. She mentions the Diva’s Revolution, but we all know where the real Diva’s Revolution happened: at NXT Takeover: Respect! Alexa Bliss interrupts her celebration, ostensibly to congratulate her. Of course, she was there merely to issue a challenge to Bayley. Bliss said that people like Bayley don’t deserve a title. Bliss is a strange one to challenge Bayley for the title, but as long as Dana Brooke and Eva Marie aren’t in the title picture, I don’t care.
SEGMENT: William Regal congratulates Finn Balor and Samoa Joe on their Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic victory. Samoa Joe asks for a title shot, and Balor agrees. Regal has other plans…cue the announcement of a Battle Royale for the Number 1 Contendership later on…
The Vaudevillains vs Fulton and Dawkins
A squash match with only one great moment in it: when Dawkins was suplexed by Gotch and his headband flew off! Save from that, I can’t remember much about the match. The Vaudevillains got the victory…what more can I say?
WINNERS: The Vaudevillains
VERDICT: 3/10. Unmemorable squash match.
PROMO: Dash and Dawson mock the Vaudevillains ‘impressive victory.’ As they defeated the Vaudevillains in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, they believe they deserve a title shot. However, they will batter Amore and Cassady on next week’s NXT…
SEGMENT: Dana Brooke is being checked over by doctors. Asuka comes in, scares off Emma, and pats Brooke on the head. She smiles that fearsome smile that almost makes me wet my pants!
Nia Jax vs Evie
Nia Jax made her debut on NXT, easily dominating Evie. But there wasn’t enough ring time to see whether Nia Jax can go in the ring. Will she be used as a heel or a face? They could do a great storyline of a heel Jax brutalising all of the NXT women in match after match and calling out Bayley. Then Bayley would have to face her greatest threat yet…But apart from a bear hug and her finisher, nothing else really stood out from Jax’s first match. It is refreshing to see someone different from your typical WWE woman wrestler, however! She is a Diva’s Revolution all by herself, if you think about it.
WINNER: Nia Jax
VERDICT: 3/10. Good to see Nia Jax make her debut, but there wasn’t enough of it to make a decision about her.
SEGMENT: Eva Marie is on vacation in Paris. She says she misses us…but we sure don’t miss her!
Battle Royale for NXT Title’s Number 1 Contender
There were some nice short promos from entrants in the Battle Royale throughout the night, but the Battle Royale itself was like any other Battle Royale: cluttered and confused until there’s only a few people left. However, there was goodness between the confusion and clutter. Apollo Crews looked good in the early going, eliminating two people and then pressing Johnny Gargano onto the eliminated competitors. A ‘shock’ happened when Baron Corbin threw out Rhyno. So much for their co-operation! Samoa Joe was heavily booed after eliminating Tyler Breeze…I guess ‘The Prince of Cuteville’ never be in the main event of NXT! That came back to haunt Joe when Breeze pulled Joe off the apron to eliminate him. That got a ‘thank you’ cheer from the crowd…have the crowd turned on Samoa Joe? Oh dear! The last two were Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews, surprisingly. After a decent exchange, Crews clotheslines Corbin out for the victory! Did somebody say ‘too early?’ I’m astounded that Crews has this title shot so early on. Is he ready for it? I don’t think so, but I’m willing to be proved wrong!
WINNER: (And new NXT Title Number 1 Contender) Apollo Crews
VERDICT: 7/10. I usually dislike Battle Royales, but there was enough in this match to distract me from the usual clusterfest of wrestlers falling over each other. The final four were built up well during the match, and Crews and Corbin had me guessing until the very end.
OVERALL VERDICT: 6/10. The night was all about the Battle Royale, and it didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t brilliant by any stretch of the imagination, but did what it did well. Bliss and Crews as contenders for the main titles in NXT are strange choices, but let’s see how they pan out! Nia Jax’ debut didn’t set the world alight, especially when compared to Asuka’s debut. But maybe she has much more to offer us…
Leave your thoughts/comments below!
(Click here for my review of NXT Takeover: Respect)
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