NXT ARRIVAL PRE-SHOW
– We kick things off with a panel of experts hosted by Renee Young. Her special guests are Bret Hart, Kevin Nash, and Paul Heyman, as noted in the image above. They’re all stuck at a table that’s made to fit 2, so it looks sort of awkward and Nash & Hart are crammed up against each other. The energy from the panel is pretty cool, Heyman is “ON” as usual and Renee blows Josh Matthews away in her position. Renee may be the best female announcer I’ve heard.
– Promo of the WWE performance center follows, showing off all the new things the training center has to offer. Renee interviews the panelists to put it over, but Nash makes a joke of it, and Bret hardly sells it as anything better than “The Dungeon”. Heyman likes it because he can find the next “Paul Heyman guy”.
– Video Package of stars who started and NXT and has made it to the WWE, including Big E, Fandango, Xavier Woods, The Wyatt Family, and the Shield. The Shield actually cut a humorous promo against the Wyatts which morphs into a promo about them coming from NXT and excelling in the WWE. Renee discusses both the Wyatts & Shield with the panel. Bret rambles on quite a while about the Wyatts.
If this crowd can keep this up, they’re going to be hot for the entire special! Heyman interviews a couple of fans from the crowd and it seems like Paul is genuinely excited to be a part of this special.
– A video plays on NXT Women’s Champion Paige. The panelists disucss all the up and coming Divas of NXT. An Emma interview follows conducted by Natalya. Emma kills her goofy gimmick long enough to have an emotional promo. The former Tensai, now an interviewer for WWE, speaks with Paige.
– They discuss the NXT Title match, Bret & Nash talk about winning their first championship. Heyman discusses when Brock first won the WWE title. Alex Riley interviews Bo Dallas. Dude has to do something about that smile. Adrian Neville has reportedly declined an interview. Back to the panel who discuss who they think will win the Ladder match. Bret thinks Bo is cocky and will lose. Nash compares Bo’s cockiness to Shawn Michaels, and he selects Bo will win. Paul Heyman predicts that the WINNER will win, and he will have a contract in hand to hand to the champion as the next Paul Heyman guy. We’ll have to see about that.
– NXT General Manager JBL sends us off as we prepare for the first match, it’s Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro!!!
NXT ARRIVAL BEGINS NOW!!!
– A nice video package airs of the lead into this rematch from their first encounter last year and the rematches that followed. We see Zayn’s constant attempts to request being shot down by Cesaro, before HHH signs the match. (I thought JBL was the commissioner?)
– HHH, in the ring and gets himself over with the “Are You Ready” line, before we kick off the first match. Trips says NXT is the NEXT Generation, and the Next Generation…. HAS ARRIVED!!!
– Commentators are Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, and Williams Regal
1. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro. Hot crowd with “Match of the Year” chant, followed by dualing chants of “We the People”/”Sami Zayn”. Nice wrestling bit to start things off, Zayn tries a huracan rana and Cesaro counters for the Giant Swing, but Sami backflips onto his feet to escape. Cesaro takes a bump outside and Zayn lands a somersault plancha to the floor. Back inside Cesaro catches Zayn and turns it into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Cesaro works over Zayn, even cracks him with a nasty looking European uppercut before going to Zayn’s previously injured leg. Great old school work on the leg, nice dragon screw leg whip. Sami fights back and sends Cesaro to the floor. Zayn tries an Asai Moonsault to the floor, but Cesaro catches him with a tilt-a-whirl slam on the NXT ramp!!!!
Zayn beats the count on the count of 9, Cesaro rushes, but Zayn catches him and tosses Cesaro upside down in the corner with an Exploder Suplex. Cesaro tries to run off the ropes, but Zayn grabs his trunks and turns it into a BLUE THUNDER BOMB for 2!!! Zayn with the Koji Clutch, but Cesaro counters by wrenching Sami’s leg behind Cesaro’s neck. Zayn finally gets the ropes for a break. CESARO SWING and Zayn fights the hold the entire 10 revolutions rather than just hanging there. SEVERAL NEAR FALLS from both men follow. Looks like Zayn busted himself open on the ropes during the Giant Swing spot. Zayn tries a top rope Huracan Rana by Zayn gets blocked, Cesaro tries a Superbomb, but Zayn counters again and hits the Huracan Rana off the top after all!!!
Zayn with the trademark big boot in the corner. Cesaro battles right back with some more nasty European Uppercuts. Zayn comes back with a nice suplex spot, and counters a Neutralizer into a Sunset flip bomb for a near fall… GREAT MATCH, by the way….
Cesaro tosses Zayn up in the air for another stiff European Uppercut that ONLY GETS ONE!!! ANOTHER EXPLOSIVE UPPERCUT that just makes an exploding sound across the chest of Sami. Cesaro finally lands the Neutralizer and this match is over at 23:00 even.
– After the match Cesaro shows a sign of tremendous respect, helping Zayn up and embracing him after the match. The fans chant for Zayn as Cesaro leaves the ring to let him bask in the spotlight.
– Mojo Rawley promo airs. He stays HYPER you know…
2. “The Hype Man” Mojo Rawley vs. “The Moon Child” CJ Parker. Rawley’s gimmick is that “he stays hyper”. Have fun with that. CJ Parker is a different kind of loon, funky hair, funky gear, funky entrance, and preaches peace. Nothing better than a wrestler who wants peace. It worked for the Love Brothers anyway. Mojo applies a HYPER armbar, nothing says full speed like an armbar. Parker takes over, but it’s your generic offense. Rawley comes back with the Butt-butt (or Rear View) and an Earthquake Buttdrop which he calls “Hyper Drive” for the win in maybe 4:00 . This was little more than a way to put Rawley over on the show.
– A video on Emma and her time in NXT. I can see why she’s over here in NXT, I just hope they can find a way to make it transition over into WWE.
– The Ascension Video airs.
3. NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension vs. TOO COOL. That’s NOT a typo. Scotty Too Hotty & Grandmaster Sexay are the mystery challengers. Sexay does a little dancing to get going and he’s immediately cut off and the Ascension take over with a more serious tone. It’s just funny hearing William Regal say “Grandmaster Sexay” repeatedly while calling a serious match. Five minutes in and the Ascension have just OWNED Brian Christopher since the beginning. Sexay finally get the tag to Scotty, who comes in like a house-o-fire. Scotty sporting a shaved hear here. Scotty with the BULLDOG and here comes the….W-O-R-M… Sexay dumps Konnor as Scotty tries the Worm on Viktor, but it’s blocked by Viktor and he kills Scotty with a clothesline. The Ascension then hit their running version of Total Elimination for their finisher for the win at 6:36.
– Ric Flair and his daughter, NXT’s “Charlotte” are in the front row.
– Surprise (and unwanted, at least by me) promo by Stephanie McMahon. Steph puts over NXT and their Divas Division. Steph introduces the NXT Divas match. Emma is out first with a (I can’t believe I’m saying this) FUN entrance. Hey, it works in NXT… Even Regal is dancing… The NXT Woman’s Champion Paige is out next. I should note that Stephanie does NO introductions, the girls just come out and Steph holds the belt up.
4. NXT Women’s Champion Paige vs. Emma. Paige tries to slap around Emma, but Emma fires back and these girls show a lot of aggression as we get going. Lots of good stuff from both early on with Paige eventually grounding Emma. Regal namedrops Lance Storm training Emma, so cue Lance Storm’s Twitter appreciation on our main sit under the Twitter comments. Emma comes back with a little flipping, a little dancing, and lands a slingshot into an Emmalock, but Paige escapes before she can apply. Emma works the back of Paige, and this feels like an ACTUAL WRESTLING MATCH, and not a “Divas” match. How pathetic that these girls are better than ANYTHING they have up on the main roster, Divas wise. Emma with the Tarantula on the ropes. Paige comes back, trying a superplex, but Emma counters with a sunset flip from the top, but Paige holds onto the ropes so Emma walks her out into a sit-out Powerbomb!!! 1…..2………..Paige kicks out!!! Paige comes back with her finisher “the Paige Turner”, but EMMA KICKS OUT!!! Paige applies a sick looking inverted Scorpion Death Lock with a double arm hook, bending Emma every which way. Emma is forced to tap in 13:00! Can you imagine a WWE Divas match going 13:00? This was MUUUUCH better!!!
After the match, Paige shakes the hand of Emma and gives her a hug before celebrating. It’s hard to see Emma in the goofy gimmick on Raw and then come here and work in such a serious fashion. It was very believable tonight, I just don’t know how to buy into the happy-go-lucky character when she pops back up on Raw playing kissy face with Santino.
– Adrian Neville Promo
– NXT Promo
– Dusty Rhodes & Pat Patterson in the front row
5. Xavier Woods vs. Tyler Breeze. Woods out to the “Call My Momma” song. Apparently it’s free reign for everyone to use now… Alexander Rusev hits the ring before the match can begin. He just destroys both men. It should be noted the Stream FREEZES THREE TIMES during this and I miss all but Rusev’s big slams. I had to refresh to get the picture back, and every time it would freeze again after 5 seconds. I’m not the only one who had the problem. I caught Rusev talking in his native language after the attack. Since Rusev was already planning to be on the PPV, and didn’t have a match, so this wasn’t much of a shocker. Xavier becomes the next guy they called up and just buried after just debuting him. This segment seemed VERY rushed, it was in and out in no time.
– Bo Dallas Promo (the stream seems to be working again, so far…)
– Larry Zbyszko, and as Regal referred to him as “Skinner” Steve Keirn in the front row.
– MORE FREEZING during the Ladder Match Promo Video. If this happens at WrestleMania, just… WOW…. They don’t have NEAR the viewers for NXT that they expect for Mania and they’re having these issues. If they don’t do something to fix this fast, there’s going to be a lot of people leaving the Network after the first 6 month period.
– Shawn Michaels makes a surprise appearance in the ring, after being pulled from the show a few days earlier. Shawn eats up more time than he should out there, putting himself over for several minutes. Then puts over his DVD. The stream is skipping all around, missing sentences here and there. Shawn FINALLY puts over the match and we get going with the main event.
6. NXT Champion Bo Dallas vs. Adrian Neville in a LADDER MATCH. Bo won the NXT Championship 260 days ago, making him the longest reigning NXT Champion of all time. Neville starts off flipping all over the place, but Dallas puts him in his place with Neville taking a nice bump on the back of his head. Dallas turns Neville inside out with a clothesline and tied him in the ropes so he can get a ladder. Adrian frees himself and takes the fight to the floor with a plancha. Dallas rams Neville’s spine into the steel steps in a nice spot. Bo tries to throw a Ladder in Neville’s face, Adrian ducks and the ladder goes sliding into the ring. Bo tries to drop Neville on the ramp but Adrian reverses and Bo takes a backdrop on the ramp.
Neville is the first to climb the ladder towards the title, but Dallas cracks Neville with a second ladder from behind. Dallas sets the ladder up with the bottom rung pinning Neville down, but Adrian shoves the ladder over and Bo bumps off into the top rope. Neville then climbs up and Bo shoves him over. The two men fight over a ladder and Dallas drives the ladder into the ribs of Adrian. Neville battles back by running up the ropes and landing a swinging tornado DDT. Both men continue to fight for the climb and they crack heads, leading to Neville taking a bump into the ladder.
Bo tries to battering ram Neville’s head into a ladder in the corner, but Adrian shoves him off and Bo eats the ladder instead. Both men meet each other at the top of the ladder. Bo works on Neville’s arm and both men get off the ladder, Neville with a kick to Bo’s head. Neville climbs up the ropes but gets throws off, smacking his back on the apron and bumping to the floor.
Bo is alone in the ring and ascends the ladder. Dallas is half way up the ladder when Neville SPRINGBOARDS back into the ring, OVER THE TOP OF DALLAS and lands on the upper rungs of the ladder! Neville is above Bo!, Dallas tries to German Suplex Neville off the ladder, but Neville turns around and hits a sunset powerbomb off the ladder onto Dallas who takes it into a ladder in the corner. Neville lays Bo out on a ladder and hits a wild looking twisting flipping shooting star gimmick onto Bo, and Dallas rolls to the outside.
Neville climbs the ladder, he’s at the title… But HERE COMES BO!!! Dallas tries to climb the opposite side, but Neville SECURES THE TITLE!!! ADRIAN NEVILLE IS THE NEW NXT CHAMPION in around 16:00!!!!
Neville becomes the 4th ever NXT Champion!
– John Cena shown applauding in the crowd. Well they promised a special appearance…
Other than that 10 minute period of freezing, the stream held up well otherwise, at least from my laptop. I know people on Apple TV were having some major issues from the Xavier Woods match onward…
