Credit: Mike Bessler, though with many spelling corrections.
The final few minutes of the pre-show reveal an enthusiastic crowd as well as an announce team that seems genuinely excited about the big event.
Kalisto and Sin Cara come out to a warm reception as they’re set to take on The Ascension for the titles. We get a brief recap of the road to the title match, The Ascension some out to the ring and it’s bell time.
Kalisto and Sin Cara vs. The Ascension
Starting out, Viktor locks up with Sin Cara. Viktor hits hard but Sin Cara takes to the air early and briefly knocks the big guy down. Sin Cara gets dumped outside and Konnor works over the luchador in a slow grind of mat work. Viktor keeps it up, taunting Kalisto. Sin Cara halts the Ascension’s offense briefly but his comeback goes nowhere. He struggles to gather his wits and musters an enzuigiri, temporarily dazing Konnor. He eventually tags in Kalisto who goes totally ballistic, taking out both guys with a dazzling display of aerial moves. In a great spot, Sin Cara appears to botch a suicide dive when both Ascension guys catch him on the outside but Kalisto follows up with a well-aimed dive and knocks both guys down. Back in the ring, Kalisto hits the Salina Del Sol on Viktor and the pinfall follows, ending the 344-day title reign of The Ascension. The announce team puts this over as the biggest update in the history of NXT. Great kickoff.
Result: Kalisto and Sin Cara defeat The Ascension via pinfall.
Next up, “Eco-Warrior” CJ Parker hits the ramp and he’s taking on Baron Corbin.
CJ Parker vs. Baron Corbin
Parker tries to charge Corbin from the get-go and Corbin absolutely levels him, picks him up for a big ‘ol slam and gets the three count. Quick and painful.
Result: Baron Corbin defeats CJ Parker via pinfall.
After a video for the fatal 4-way, we’re getting set up for the hair vs. hair match….
Hair vs. hair match: Enzo Amore vs. Sylvester Lefort
Amore cuts a hilarious promo explaining how he is going to cut Lefort’s hair after the match. A real old-school performance on the mic. Lefort looks like a stronger competitor with regard to stature and abilities but Amore shows he’s no slouch, keeping up the attack until he finds something that works. He ultimately lays out Lefort with a dropkick and then pulls him off the apron and over the ropes by the hair. Lefort roars back, stamping Amore down with kicks and then working him over on the mat. Enzo lands a kick from off the ropes that temporarily dazes Lefort but the Frenchman makes him pay for it, putting Amore down on the mat again…and again. The Legionnaire gets a near fall as the acolytes for both competitors mix it up on the floor. Lefort is distracted just long enough for Enzo to roll him up for the count.
Result: Enzo Amore defeats Sylvester Lefort via pinfall.
Post match, Lefort escapes the barber’s chair but Marcus gets a giant bucket of some kind of Nair and Alfredo sauce concoction dumped all over his scalp. Bleh.
After some promos for the 4-way and the Network, William Regal hits the ring and takes to the mic. The crowd absolutely loves him.
After some promos for the 4-way and the Network, William Regal hits the ring and takes to the mic. The crowd absolutely loves him. Regal welcomes Kenta to the ring. The international superstar comes out in a suit and tie and he gets a great reaction from the crowd. Kenta takes the mic and greets everyone in English and then he says a whole lot in Japanese. He then says in English that it’s a dream come true to be in WWE and on NXT. He rechristens himself as Hideo Itami and says his goal is to be NXT champion. The Ascension storm the ring and attack the newcomer, demanding that Regal give them a rematch for the titles. Before Viktor can finish his thought, Kenta comes back into the ring, takes off his jacket and trashes both guys, putting them out of the ring. He then grabs a chair and sits down in the center of the ring, egging both guys on to come back in and pick up the fight again. They decline and retreat as the crowd registers resounding approval. Great segment.
Bull Dempsey vs. Mojo Rawley
Both guys mix it up quickly but Dempsey overpowers Rawley quickly. He takes to the air and delivers a 300-lb. flying headbutt to Mojo’s midsection, following up with a pin and the bell.
Result: Bull Dempsey defeats Mojo Rawley via pinfall
After the match, Bull hits one more headbutt off the top. Squash achievement unlocked.
Enzo and Big Cass find Marcus backstage and drag him back out to the ring, revailing his freshly bald head in one of the funniest moments of the show. Next up, we get a preview of the forthcoming women’s match. Bayley comes out first for the match, followed by Charlotte.
NXT Women’s Championship: Bayley vs. Charlotte
Charlotte wants to start the match with a handshake but Bayley goes ahead and starts the fight, driving Charlotte back into the corner. Charlotte powers back and takes control for a short stretch but Bayley comes back with a flurry of impressive moves, even trying for a pinfall. Charlotte is just too powerful though, working her into the figure four headlock. She keeps up the heavy offense, putting Bayley into a corner and laying into her guy with a batch of kicks. Bayley resists but Charlotte works her down on to the mat again. She flings Bayley around by the cranium after locking in the figure four headlock again. It’s starting to look like this isn’t Bayley’s night but she comes back once again, rolling Charlotte into a cradle and almost getting a pin. She rolls the champ up again a short time later but it’s another near fall. Charlotte looks confident but annoyed as the women begin to duke it out in the middle of the ring. The champ looks to land a moonsault but Bayley puts the kibosh on that plan, turning it into an opportunity to flip Charlotte on to the canvas. Both women are down as the ref starts the count and Bayley crawls into position for the pin but Charlotte kicks out again. After some more fighting, Bayley hits her head on the bottom turnbuckle and she’s stunned for the moment. Charlotte hits a moonsault and goes for the pin but Bayley kicks out. The women are face to face for a compelling moment and then Charlotte hits the natural selection and gets the pin.
Result: Charlotte retains her title, defeating Bayley via pinfall.
After the bell, Sasha comes out and tries to pick the bones of the challenger, beating the stuffing out of Bayley. Charlotte comes back in to make the save.
We get a promo by Sami Zayn followed by a look at the Lesnar/Cena feud and now it’s main event time.
NXT Fatal 4-Way: Adrian Neville (c) vs. Sami Zayn vs. Tyler Breeze vs. Tyson Kidd
After the entrances and intros are over, the bell rings. Lots of crowd support for Sami Zayn as things get underway. There’s a brief four-way standoff as the guys creep towards each other before Zayn steps back. They finally go at it with Breeze and Zayn locking up while Neville and Kidd mix it up. After the action spills outside, Zayn and Neville end up face to face back inside. Before they can throw down, the other opponents come back in and rejoin the battle. Zayn and Breeze get into it on the floor again and Zayn takes a time out to snap a selfie with a fan’s cell phone. The crowd eats it up. Kidd breaks free of Neville to attack Zayn and they end up scrapping in the ring where Zayn goes for a submission via the clutch. It’s broken up and all four dudes slug it out on the ramp. Kidd and Breeze double-team Zayn after Neville is neutralized, taking him back in the ring to work him over in a big way. Breeze blocks Neville from intervening and Zayn stays on the receiving end of things. Breeze goes for a pin, angering Kidd who kicks Tyler’s face in and tries to pin Sami himself. Zayn kicks out twice but Kidd keeps him on the mat. Neville comes in again and Kidd chucks him outside.. Kidd keeps at it put he can’t put Zayn away. Both guys keep at it for a while and Kidd manages to stay on top for most of the ensuing action. Neville and Breeze are totally MIA at this point.
Neville comes in once again and Kidd manages to toss him out the other side but this time Neville hops back in, followed by Breeze. A melee ensues and Breeze and Kidd end up on the outside, prompting Zayn to gear up for a suicide dive. Neville intervenes and hits them with a moonsault instead. With those guys out of commission, it’s time for Neville and Zayn to get it on. They hit each other fast and hard for a few seconds but Kidd breaks it up. He whoops up on Neville and then turns his attention to Zayn, almost getting a pinfall for the title. He aims for the sarpshooter twice but can’t fully set it up. Sami tries to put Kidd away and Breeze comes in from out of nowhere, putting down every guy with a supermodel kick. Nevertheless, dude can’t get a single three-count. Breeze sets up Neville for the superplex and Kidd comes over to make it a double. Zayn slides in and ‘plexes all three of them, following up with a cover on Kidd who kicks out. The crowd shows their approval by chanting, “This is wrestling!”
Zayn gets up and gets all fired up, whaling on Kidd and then getting stopped dead in his tracks after a boot from Neville. Neville hits a moonsault on Zayn but Breeze breaks up the pin and tries to get the win himself, failing yet again. He scouts Zayn once more and Kidd steps in, locking in the sharpshooter on Breeze who almost taps out. Neville prevents Breeze from tapping and Sami forces Kidd to break the hold. Now Zayn and Neville duke it out in the center of the ring. Neville charges Sami and he’s tossed over the top rope. After a short interlude with Kidd, Zayn hits Neville and then Breeze with aerial moves outside. He goes to pin Kidd and Neville pulls out the ref before the count of three. Now Zayn is really torqued and he heads out to confront Neville who waffles him with a superkick. Neville rushes the ring, hits Kidd off the top and covers him for the pin, retaining the title.
Result: Adrian Neville retains the NXT title by pinning Tyson Kidd.
