By John Moore
WWE NXT on the WWE Network
Taped August 19, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York at Barclays Center
This week’s NXT started off with the WWE Narrator guy talking over a montage of NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III. Code Orange played the music over the montage video which focused on all of the Takeover matches. The ending part of the video focused on Adam Cole’s NXT debut at Takeover…
The show opened up with a Mauro Ranallo voiceover. He hyped up Wolfgang and Pete Dunne vs. Moustache Mountain (Trent Seven and Tyler Bate). No Way Jose made his entrance. Mauro Ranallo, Nigel McGuiness, and Percy Watson were on commentary. Lars Sullivan ran through No Way Jose before he could make it to the ring. Sullivan overpowered Jose and gave him Snake Eyes on the apron. Sullivan gave Jose a corner splash. Sullivan planted Jose with a gutwrench sideslam. Lars Sullivan walked out to boos. Mauro Ranallo hyped up “Exclusive Footage” from the Bobby Roode vs. Drew McIntyre as well as Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade Almas… [C]
John’s Thoughts: I like how they’ve built Lars Sullivan, but this wasn’t as must-see as his wonderful tag team partner beatdowns. I feel a bit bad for Jose to some extent. The guy is an underrated worker in the ring, but now he’s been relegated to the enhancement role that Juice Robinson/CJ Parker used to fill for incoming heels. I guess someone needs that spot now that Andrade Almas is not inhabiting it.
A detailed recap video package played of the Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade Almas match aired with slow motion clips. Kayla Braxton interviewed Gargano “earlier today”. Gargano said the road to mediocrity is paved with excused and he’s accepted that he lost. Gargano said he beat himself and he has to be better. Gargano said Takeover wasn’t a fairy tale ending but he knows people believe in him. Gargano said that night was far from the end of Johnny Wrestling. The commentators discussed Gargano’s confidence and loss…
Mauro cut to an Ember Moon vs. Asuka video package. Asuka was interviewed by the international press. Asuka said Moon was strong but Asuka was better. Asuka said she didn’t think Moon would escape the match with the championship. She pointed to the belt and said “Asuka!”. After more questions, Asuka got a bit nervous and said she’s still champion. Mauro Ranallo then talked about the WWE Breaking News that said that Asuka received an injury from the match. Mauro hyped up Peyton Royce vs. Sarah Logan for after the break… [C]
Pete Dunne and Wolfgang were interviewed. Pete Dunne said when he won the UK Title it wasn’t a turning point, it was the beginning of the UK brand. Dunne said every time he wrestles the brand gets stronger and stronger. Dunne talked about how the title belongs to the bruiserweight. Wolfgang interject and asked Dunne about getting a shot at the title sooner rather than later. Dunne just brushed the question off…
1. Peyton Royce (w/ Billie Kay) vs. Sarah Logan. Sarah Logan had an extremely Southern sounding theme. Royce and Logan squared off. Logan locked in the side headlock. Royce escaped a pumphandle. Logan tripped Royce by going prone. Mauro talked about how Logan was trained by Taka Michinoku and wrestled people like Becky Lynch or Alexa Bliss. Royce took down Logan with a spinning heel kick. Royce thrust her foot into the throat of Logan. Royce locked in a rope assisted octopus hold which got an applause.
Logan dodged a spinning heel kick and hit a delayed German Suplex on Royce. Logan hit a rally of chops. Logan hit a dropkick into a nearfall. Royce and Kay held hands against the ropes. Logan and Royce traded rollup attempts. Royce hit a side knee and Fisherman Bridged Suplex to pick up the win.
Peyton Royce defeated Sarah Logan via pinfall in 4:17.
Nigel said Royce’s flexibility was what gave her the edge. Kay and Royce did their BFF stuff, which includes their pointing thing… [C]
John’s Thoughts: The usual post-Takeover recap show with Pre-Takeover matches. I think it’s either time to break Royce and Kay up or bring them up together on Smackdown since they beat standby women but lose to anyone that matters. They’ve been established as stepping stones. I think Royce in particular has a great future ahead of her. If they move up, I do hope they get rid of the goofy pointing thing. I get that it’s supposed to generate heat, but it’s just dorky and makes them seem like undercard goofs. Summer Rae’s thumb snap was much better!
Mauro talked over an Authors of Pain vs. Sanity recap package. Mauro called Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish one of the most decelerated teams in wrestling (I’m surprised Mauro didn’t say “Sports entertainment”). They then cut to the Roode vs. McIntyre “Exclusive Footage” which was a highlight video. A bumper poster said the words “Future Shock” in a picture featuring Drew McIntyre and the former ROH Wrestlers…
Bobby Roode was shown backstage packing up. Roode yelled and refused an interview. Roderick Strong stood at the end of the room and threw a kiss in Roode’s direction to mock him. Strong said he would see Roode soon. Mauro then cut to highlights from Roode’s Smackdown entrance. Kayla Braxton interviewed Roode “earlier today”. Braxton wondered if this was the last we’ve seen on NXT. Roode said he doesn’t leave behind unfinished and he has business with Strong and Drew McIntyre. Roode said he was going to have his rematch with McIntyre for the championship as well as finishing off Strong. Trent Seven and Tyler Bate were shown heading to the ring… [C]
John’s Thoughts: Interesting move to have Roode stick around to tie up loose ends on NXT. I like it even though the results are a bit telegraphed. Maybe they do put the title back on Roode but that would make no sense.
Mauro recapped the Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami match. Mauro called this match Black’s most high profile match in his career. Aleister Black was walking to his car in a suit as he was swarmed by interviewers. He nosold their interview attempts…
2. Tyler Bate and Trent Seven vs. Pete Dunne and Wolfgang. Wolfgang also got some really southern music (which is more in my mind due to Sarah Logan’s theme). Dunne received a strong reaction from the crowd. Mauro gave Dunne credit for being an 11 year wrestling veteran. Dunne and Bate locked up to start the match. Dunne dominated with ground takedowns. Bate managed to turn the tables with similar ground chain wrestling. Dunne and Bate did a Kip Up to signify a stalemate. [C]
Bate and Seven had Dunne isolated in their corner where they traded quick tags and tandem offense. Dunne used the ropes to gain some breathing room. Dunne gained dominance on Seven after a stiff forearm. Dunne managed to tag in Wolfgang. Seven gave Wolfgang a DDT. Dunne distracted Seven enough to allow Wolfgang to hit a gore on Seven. Dunne tagged in and worked on the joints of Seven. Wolfgang took down Seven with several gutwrench slams. Seven fought out of fireman carry and hit a belly to belly on Wolfgang.
Wolfgang tagged in Dunne and Seven made the hot tag to Bate. Bate hit a nice delayed release suplex. Bate the Son of Havoc springboard lariat. Bate then spun Dunne in the airplane spin. Wolfgang broke up the pin attempt. Seven took care of Wolfgang. Dunne took care of Seven with a forearm. Bate hit a nice feigned punch. Tyler Bate hit the Tyler Driver 97 on Dunne but Wolfgang made the blind tag. Wolfgang defeated Tyler Bate after a Swanton Bomb.
Wolfgang and Pete Dunne defeated Moustache Mountain via pinfall in 7:07.
Mauro talked about how Wolfgang might have put himself in the title picture. The victors stood tall as NXT ended…
John’s Thoughts: This was a solid TV match. Smart booking with the ending that protected Tyler Bate in loss while building up Wolfgang by giving him the pinfall victory. This was very efficient booking all across the board and it’s a bit shocking that WWE’s UK division has been put on the backburner even though there’s so much potential and talent. The infrastructure is also way more pristine compared to WWE’s cruiserweight division so there’s something to work with.
This was a decent show, but totally missable. You can get all you need from YouTube where I assume you can get Bobby Roode’s announcement that he’s sticking around in NXT to tie up loose ends. Earlier in this year I would have said this was a bad episode, but that was at a time where every NXT episode seemed like house shows and dark matches. These Anime-Recap-Episode esque episodes are more beneficial in providing a break between takeovers and the text “Season” of story arcs.
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