By Zack Zimmerman
WWE NXT on the WWE Network
Aired January 27, 2016
Taped January 7 at Full Sail University
The opening video played. American Alpha made their entrance to a big reaction from the Full Sail crowd. Former tag champs Blake and Murphy were out next.
1. Blake and Murphy (w/ Alexa Bliss) vs. American Alpha (Chad Gable and Jason Jordan). The crowd chanted for American Alpha. Jordan used some fancy footwork and a big amateur wrestling slam out of the gate. Gable tagged in and continued to isolate Murphy by the arm that Jordan had been working on. Murphy managed to halt Gables momentum and make the tag to Blake, but Gable used his tricky offense to take right back over.
Gable flew around the ring with a fancy series of arm drags and a classic headscissors takeover. The crowd sang Gable’s name and he continued to roll until Murphy feigned a leg injury on a leapfrog. Blake ran in for a distraction and Blake charged with a wicked chop block. Blake and Murphy hung Gable from their corner and went to work on the knee.
Gable struggled for a while but managed to reach Jordan for the hot tag before long. Jordan suplexed Blake across Murphy, hit his running spear in the corner, and American Alpha hit their finish for the win.
American Alpha over Blake and Murphy in about 7:30.
The commentators noted that Blake and Murphy are the third former tag champs knocked off by Gable and Jordan. Replays aired and the newly minted American Alpha celebrated in the ring…
Backstage, Emma and Dana Brooke cut a promo on Bayley and Carmella. They said that Carmella doesn’t have the skills to beat them. Emma said that next week she takes on Carmella and her luck is going to run out. Dana said she’ll be the “bada bing, unluckiest chick in the ring.” They belittled the announcer Alex and walked off… The commentators hyped social media’s response to Sami Zayn’s return and the main event triple threat… [C]
Zim Says: Another solid showing on this fun run for Gable and Jordan. I like the American Alpha name and I’m sure it’ll be second nature before long. These two are the hottest thing in the tag division.
They plugged Tapout and transitioned that into a promo video for Asuka… Back in the arena, Nia Jax made her entrance. She had Eva Marie alongside. Her opponent was already in the ring.
2. Nia Jax (w/ Eva Marie) vs. Liv Morgan. Jax backed Morgan into the corner and punked her out. Morgan tried to hit the ropes and use her speed, but Jax caught her quickly and began to ragdoll her. Jax used a cobra clutch, but Morgan broke it up with a jawbreaker and a series of dropkicks. Morgan looked for the guillotine that worked for Bayley, but she was not so lucky. Jax dropped her and then dropped a leg for the win.
Nia Jax squashed Liv Morgan in about 2:10.
Backstage, Carmella said that she heard Emma and next week, she’s going to beat Emma all by herself and prove that Emmalution is a joke. Colin Cassady said that they heard Dash and Dawson last week and made fun of their guts. Enzo said the only ounce of credibility to Dash and Dawson are those titles. Enzo said he’s been on-edge since London and they’re getting tuned up next time he sees them. He continued with a hell of a promo and walked off, leaving even Cass and Carmella impressed… A Baron Corbin vignette aired and the main event was hyped… [C]
A Vaudevillains vignette aired with a sinister undertone… Back in the arena, Bull Dempsey made his entrance. Your favorite and mine, Alex Riley, made his return from knee surgery next.
3. Bull Dempsey vs. Alex Riley. Riley but a dull beating on Bull in the corner. Riley hit a sitting neckbreaker for a two-count. Bull looked to pick up momentum but Riley planted him with a spinebuster. The place fell silent and remained silent as Riley hit a jumping knee strike and scored the pinfall.
Alex Riley beat Bull Dempsey in about 2:00.
Zim Says: Joy. Ready to rage, everyone? Ugh.
The Drifter was playing his guitar somewhere shadowy and Tom Phillips said there were a lot of questions about the man and he will be in action next… [C]
Backstage, Alex Riley said that he kept contacting the company during his injury and he didn’t hear back from anyone. Take a hint guy. He said that he watched NXT every week and saw Sami Zayn’s return. He said he knows what Apollo Crews had for breakfast three days ago. Huh? He said everyone is surprised to see him…
Back in the arena, The Drifter drifted to the ring. His opponent was already in the ring.
4. Elias Samson vs. John Skyler. Samson hit a high dropkick early and but a beating on Skyler in the corner. Samson hit a snap neckbreaker and won.
Elias Sampson topped John Skyler in about 2:00.
Replays aired and the commentators wondered wha twas on the mind of The Drifter… Backstage, The Hype Bros said they don’t get The Vaudevillains. Ryder said sometimes he wishes Mojo was quiet like The Vaudes. They argued about girls and Zubaz. Mojo said he watches Ryder sleep and promised to have Ryder’s back against The Vaudes next week… A Samoa Joe vignette aired and the main event was hyped…
Zim Says: Is this show over yet? At least the main event has some promise.
5. Baron Corbin vs. Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe to determine the No. 1 Contender to the NXT Championship. There were no alliances for even a moment. Zayn looked to hit his dive to the outside but Joe grabbed his leg and went to work at ringside. Joe got the better of both opponents through the opening minutes until Zayn avoided a knee drop and hit a quick low dropkick. Zayn’s success was short-lived however, as Corbin took advantage and jumped him from behind. [C]
Zayn managed to create separation and get both opponents to ringside where he wiped both out with a big dive over the ropes. Back in the ring, Zayn looked to follow up but Corbin planted him with the Deep Six swinging side slam. Joe re-entered the match and began taking it to Zayn as well. Zayn managed to kick out of a snap powerslam, but Joe continued to assault Zayn with shots in the corner. Joe set up for the Muscle Buster but Corbin broke it up.
Zayn fought free and hit a huge Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall on Corbin. Zayn looked for a moment of relief leaning against the ropes, but Joe snuck up and snagged him from behind with the rear naked choke. Joe choked Zayn out on the floor and then went on a roll of offense against Corbin in the ring. Joe hit the ropes, but Corbin caught him with the End of Days. Corbin made the cover, but Zay n recovered just in time to break up the pin attempt.
Corbin hit a violent flurry on Zayn in the corner, but when he looked to follow up, Zayn caught him with the exploder in the corner. Zayn charged with the Helluva Kick and connected, but Joe pulled Zayn to ringside to break up the pin attempt. Zayn sent Joe crashing into the ring steps and then caught Corbin in a Sharpshooter in the ring. Zayn sank it in mid-ring, but Joe ran in and hooked on the crossface. Corbin submitted, but it was while he was in submissions by both opponents.
Sami Zayn and Samoa Joe forced Baron Corbin to submit in about 12:00.
William Regal walked down to ringside and Joe argued that Zayn’s Sharpshooter was terrible, so Corbin tapped to the crossface. Zayn said he put him in the hold first. Regal said he would need to review the tape and address it when he makes a decision.
Zim Says: I like the finish to extend this No. 1 Contendership picture. It will open the door to some potentially fun matches down the line rather than just rushing through these matchups. In general though, I really didn’t enjoy this show. It was overloaded with unimpressive and meaningless squash matches of characters I’m not sold on yet. The main event was alright, but it wasn’t as good as you’d expect it to be on paper and as the headline of this show, I had checked out before it even began. ere’s hoping things ramp up in a couple of weeks with the Orlando taping and the ramp up to Takeover Dallas. Speaking of which, be sure to check back on the main page for the result from tonight’s NXT Tapings from Full Sail.
Also be sure to check back for the DotNet NXT Audio Recap and Hitlist.
Throw comments, questions, criticisms, or corrections @DotNetZim or DotNetZim@gmail.com; always happy to discuss.
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