By Zack Zimmerman
NXT on WWE Network
Taped December 3 in Osaka, Japan
A video package hyped the NXT Championship match from Osaka, Japan between champion Samoa Joe and challenger Shinsuke Nakamura (which already aired two weeks ago)… The opening video played… Inside the Edison Arena in Osaka, the crowd chanted “NXT” as the commentators promoted the title match.
Things kicked off with Oney Lorcan making his entrance. The commentators noted that the “Boston brawler” was a long ways from home, wrestling in Japan for his first time. His opponent, Andrade “Cien” Almas was out next wearing his La Sombra mask. The commentators noted that he performed under this mask during previous stints in Japan.
1. Oney Lorcan vs. Andrade Almas. Lorcan offered a handshake, but Almas wanted none of it. Tom Phillips noted on commentary that Almas had actually defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the past to win the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. The two guys worked a back and forth sequence to a standoff and applause in the opening minutes. Almas did his tranquillo pose in the ropes and continued to disrespect Lorcan. They spent the first three-plus minutes working headlocks until Almas hit a sliding dropkick to establish control.
Almas continued on offense with another sliding kick. He set Lorcan up in the corner, but stopped short of doing anything and just slapped Lorcan hard in the face. Lorcan began to fire back with chops shy of the six-minute mark and picked up some momentum. He hit a running blockbuster for a two-count. Almas fought out of a suplex attempt and hit NJPW star Naito’s Destino for a near-fall, and the crowd reacted big.
Almas looked for a schoolboy bomb, but Lorcan fought out. They traded stiff shots back and forth mid-ring, with Lorcan getting the better and tossing Almas overhead with a half-and-half suplex. Lorcan fired up charged repeatedly at Almas in the corner, but Almas avoided the third and wiped Lorcan out with the double knee strike in the corner for a good near-fall.
Lorcan managed to crotch Almas on the top turnbuckle and connected with a huge half-and-half suplex off the top rope. Lorcan made the cover and scored the clean pinfall victory.
Oney Lorcan pinned Andrade Almas in about 10:15.
Replays aired briefly and Lorcan celebrated his upset win… A graphic promoted that Asuka would defend the NXT Women’s Championship against Nia Jax on the show, and a tag match pitting Liv Morgan and Aliyah against Billie Kay and Peyton Royce up next… [C]
Zim Says: That match started really slow, but built very well and hit a very fun pace in the final few minutes. I’d like to see more of Almas and Lorcan working together. Speaking of things I’d like to see: Almas keeping that mask on.
Back in the arena, Liv Morgan made her entrance followed by Aliyah. The duo of Peyton Royce and Billie Kay were out next.
2. Liv Morgan and Aliyah vs. Billie Kay and Peyton Royce. Liv went around and around with a sunset pin attempt in the opening minute which got a pop from the crowd. Aliyah tagged in, as did Royce a short time later. Aliyah did a big flip off the ropes into an arm drag, but it was an instant later that Royce hit a backbreaker and the heels took control.
They used a double choke in the corner, a quick double kick sequence, and a weak looking straight-jacket slam during their time on offense. Aliyah tried to fight back and make the tag, but once again the heels cut her off and put her back down with a double vertical suplex. The heels stayed in control until after the seven-minute mark, when Liv finally got the hot tag.
Liv ran wild with a bulldog and an STO, but after some distraction shenanigans, Peyton hit a bulldog driving Liv’s face into Billie’s knee and scored the pin.
Liv Morgan and Billie Kay over Liv Morgan and Aliyah in about 8:30.
A graphic promoted a match up next which would see #DIY defending their NXT Tag Team Championships against the team of Akira Tozawa and Tajiri… [C]
Zim Says: Fine match, nothing particularly good or bad.
Back in the arena, Akira Tozawa made his entrance, followed by Tajiri. Both guys got good responses in front of their home crowd. #DIY was out next, who also received a pretty strong response.
3. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. Akira Tozawa and Tajiri for the NXT Tag Team Championships. The crowd chanted for Tozawa at the bell, as he opened up against Gargano. The two went back and forth with a rapid sequence, avoiding submissions and dodging kicks, until reaching a standoff and each tagging out to their partner. Tajiri spit mist right away, but didn’t hit Ciampa and the commentators questioned the legality.
There were dueling chants of “lets go Ciampa” and “Tajiri” as they traded holds. Tajiri got the better of him and tagged in Tozawa, but Tozawa was overpowered by Ciampa. The champions got the better of Tozawa and hit a tandem knee strike and enzuigiri in the corner for an early two-count.
A short time later, Tozawa hit a jumping senton and Tajiri established control for his team going into a break. [C] Back in the ring, Ciampa and Tozawa were willingly exchanging chops back and forth, until Tozawa faked Ciampa out and punched him right in the jaw. Tozawa charged at Ciampa in the corner, but Ciampa caught him in cradle position and dropped him with a backbreaker. Somewhere, Roderick Strong groaned “bro.”
Gargano tagged in and synched in a grounded abdominal stretch. Tozawa fought out and caught Gargano leaping off the ropes with a double-knee gutbuster. Ciampa tagged in and cut Tozawa off from making the tag, but Tozawa connected with a stiff bicycle kick and Tajiri took the tag around the eleven-minute mark. He took control for his team and set things up at ringside for Tozawa to hit a series of high-speed dives through the ropes, wiping out #DIY.
Back in the ring, Tozawa hit a running elbow in the corner and yelled something that the entire crowd yelled along with him before he connected on a brainbuster for a two-count. A short time later, Gargano tagged himself in without Tozawa noticing, and then cut him in half with the slingshot spear for a two-count.
Tajiri got Gargano in the Tarantula but missed the Buzzsaw kick, eating a kick instead for a #DIY near-fall. Tozawa tagged back in and traded forearm shots with Gargano. Ciampa saved Gargano from Tozawa’s German suplex and hit rolling Germans of his own, but Tozawa fought out of a third and spiked both members of #DIY overhead with snap germans, respectively. Tozawa deadlifted Ciampa into a delayed German for another good near-fall.
Things broke down at a fun pace before Ciampa connected with Project Ciampa and looked to have it won, but Tajiri ran in and broke it up at the last second. The crowd chanted “this is awesome.” It wasn’t much later that #DIY isolated Tozawa mid-ring and connected on their running knee and superkick combo for the win.
#DIY defeated Akira Tozawa and Tajiri in about 17:30 to retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.
A lengthy series of replays aired. The champions laid their titles down in the ring and shook hands with the challengers in a showing of mutual respect to close the segment… The NXT Championship match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe was advertised for later in the show… Asuka defending her NXT Women’s Championship against Nia Jax was advertised up next… [C]
Zim Says: That match was every bit as good as I’d hoped it would be. #DIY are pretty much the only hot thing going in NXT these days and I can think of a lot worse teams that could (and probably will) be facing the champions down the line. I don’t really need to see more of Tajiri and Tozawa as a regular team, but they made for a fun pairing. I can’t really see anything on the show topping this.
Back in the arena, Nia Jax made her entrance. Hometown lady and reigning champion Asuka was out next to a big reaction. Both ladies received formal in-ring introductions. Boos for Jax and strong cheers for Asuka.
4. NXT Women’s Champion Asuka vs. Nia Jax for the NXT Women’s Championship. Asuka tried to cut Jax down with leg kicks, but Jax quickly overpowered her. Asuka went into her bag of tricks, pulling out an octopus hold on her larger opponent, but Jax powered out. Rinse and repeat with a guillotine choke attempt. Jax spiked Asuka to the mat hard with a thrust spinebuster. The crowd tried to rally for Asuka, but Jax cut her off and stayed in control. [C]
Jax charged in with a running hip attack on a seated Asuka in the corner. Jia continued beating on Asuka as the referee warned Asuka that he’d call it if she didn’t start fighting back. Asuka tried, but Jax put her down once again. Jax remained in control for several more minutes, including badly botching a Samoan Drop, where she kind of just gave up and fell into a pin cover for a sloppy two-count.
The crowd again rallied for Asuka as the match approached the seven-minute mark. Asuka began to fire up with a wicked strike sequence, but Jax put her right back down with a single headbutt. As the match approached the nine-minute mark, Asuka looked for a flying armbar, but Nia rolled too raw so Asuka switched it to a kneebar. Jia got back to her feet, and once again no-sold a bunch of strikes from Asuka as she just slammed her to the mat with ease.
Asuka sent Nia tumbling to ringside and caught her with a kick and running hip attack as Nia tried to re-enter. Asuka looked to follow up, but Jax caught her and ragdolled her into the edge of the ring. Jax re-entered the ring and waited for the countout. Asuka got back in at the seven count, but Jax was waiting and dropped a big leg across the back of the neck.
Back out at ringside, Jax hit a pretty weak looking version of her thrust spinebuster, sending Asuka into the edge of the ring. Once again, Jax went back into the ring to wait for the countout. They did the exact same spot, except this time Asuka avoided the leg drop and teed off with yet another series of strikes. This time, she got Jax down to a knee and came flying in with a running hip attack.
Asuka used a flying armbar before switching it to a triangle choke, but Jax easily stood right up. A short time later, Asuka had Jax in a rear choke, but Jax switched her around and planted Asuka with a powerbomb. Asuka fired up moments later with a spinning back kick, a German suplex, and a knockout head kick. She pinned Jax and scored the win.
Asuka pinned Nia Jax to retain the NXT Women’s Championship in about 16:00.
Asuka celebrated her win and the main event was advertised up next… [C]
Zim Says: That went considerably longer than it needed to. I guess they were trying to season Jax with a lengthy match in this kind of setting, but she’s still so green and this bizarre dynamic between developmental territory and global touring brand doesn’t really make for the best matches.
Bobby Roode and Elias Samson vs. Tye Dillinger and Buddy Murphy from the Australia leg of the tour was advertised for next week, as was Liv Morgan vs. Ember Moon vs. Billie Kay. It was also announced that #DIY will once again defend the NXT tag titles, this time against TM61…
Back in the arena, the main event was set to get underway. Then-champion Samoa Joe was out first, followed by Shinsuke Nakamura. Both guys got formal in-ring introductions and Nakamura for some red streamers thrown for him. This is the same match that aired two weeks ago at the top of the broadcast, so the rest of the report up to my closing blurb will be C&P’d from my 12/7 NXT coverage.
5. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. NXT Champion Samoa Joe for the NXT Championship. The two opened pseudo-shoot style, feeling each other out with feints and leg kicks. Nakamura got Joe’s back against the ropes and did his signature limp pose. He hit a knee to the gut and did the vibration boot twice in the corner. Joe took a powder at ringside and then raked Nakamura’s face against the ropes to take control when he re-entered. [C]
[In the initial airing, they cut out about a 9-minute segment of the match with solid but standard back-and0forth between the two. In this airing, they went to another commercial break after that segment and things picked up where they did in the initial airing.]
Back from break, Joe had Nakamura locked in the STF before transitioning to the arm-trapped crossface. Nakamura managed to reach the ropes to break the hold. Nakamura slipped out of a suplex attempt and rolled into an attempt at an armbar, but he was unable to extend Joe’s arm. Nakamura switched it into a triangle choke, but again he couldn’t lock it in and Joe escaped. The two continued to battle before Nakamura hoisted Joe up and over with a German suplex. He charged for the Kinshasa, but Joe snatched him up and planted him with a snap powerslam for two.
Nakamura escaped a Muscle Buster and Joe ducked another Kinshasa attempt before Joe locked in the choke. He released the choke and connected with two German suplexes. Nakamura tried to fight out, but Joe threw him overhead once again, this time with an exploder suplex for another two-count. The crowd chanted Nakamura the way an American crowd would, but Joe stayed in control with a high enzuigiri that knocked Nakamura off the turnbuckles to ringside.
Joe set up the uranage on the ring steps, but Nakamura fought out with relentless elbows before connecting on a Kinshasa to the back of Joe’s head which knocked Joe onto the ring steps. Both guys were selling the effects of the match as the fight went back into the ring. Nakamura connected on an axe kick and a sliding knee. He got Joe up onto his shoulders for the rare Landslide, but between the jet lag and Joe’s weight, Nakamura lost balance and fell backwards. He recovered and tossed Joe back into the ring before coming off the middle turnbuckle with a knee strike and then delivering the finishing Kinshasa. Nakamura made the cover and scored the pinball to regain the NXT title.
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Samoa Joe to win the NXT Championship.
Nakamura celebrated his win as the commentators put over him bouncing back so quickly after the first loss to become a two-time champion. The celebration carried on, which allowed for lots of Japanese girls to yell “Shinsuke!” and there appeared to be a guy in Asuka cosplay. He struck his pose mid-ring and the whole arena yelled “yeaoh!” because they know. Nakamura walked back up the ramp and replays aired to close the segment…
Zim Says: This show was largely standard house-show fare. The #DIY title match was a lot of fun, and the main event felt much more worthy of a main event title match with that added segment, but I still don’t think it tops their previous matches. All of that said, I like the idea of this show being footage from the live events. Full Sail, for the good that comes with it, had a lot of drawbacks. It’s good for the product to be shown in different environments and it makes the show feel less stagnant.
This was an improvement over a standard episode of NXT, but admittedly covering a 2-hour show during my holiday week isn’t really what I had planned, so I’m going to wrap it up here and I’ll give everything else I have to give in audio form tomorrow morning, which will probably end up being member-exclusive unless Jason is feeling nice, so head on over to that membership signup page and I’ll be talking to you tomorrow. If you’re the type who doesn’t care about missing out on all of the goodness that DotNet membership has to offer and won’t be hearing from me tomorrow, thanks for reading along for yet another year. I wish you all happiness and good health in the New Year.
You can check back tomorrow for the Dot Net NXT Audio Recap available to Dot Net Members.
Throw comments, questions, criticisms, or corrections @DotNetZim or DotNetZim@gmail.com; always happy to discuss.
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