-Adam Rose and the Rosebuds dance their way into the arena to kick of the show. It's amazing how he looks like a star on NXT, but it hasn't really translated to the big stage.
-Match 1: Adam Rose VS Comacho
-Rose escapes a full nelson...by rubbing his ass into Comacho's groin. He then jumps into Comacho's arms. Who decided to make him Rico? Comacho uses a couple straighjacket chokes as the crowd first sing-songs Rose's theme, then chants "PARTY TIME!" on the second attempt. Comacho drops a leg for two, but Rose fires back with punches, then catches Comacho with a spinebuster. Rose hits the SLIDING DICK TO THE FACE before giving the crowd THE CLAP and finishing with the Party Foul.
**1/2, pretty fun opener and a good showcase for Rose.
-William Regal & Byron Saxton dance to Rose's theme as the ultra-white Tom Phillips refuses to join in.
-Sami Zayn isn't happy about not being the #1 contender tonight and ready to take it out on Tyler Breeze.
-Match 2 for the NXT Tag Team Championship: The Ascension [c] VS Kalisto & El Local
-The champs go for the early jump, but promptly get caught with stereo ranas to send them both outside. The luchadores attempt dives, but get cut off with uppercuts as they stick their heads through the ropes. Kalisto plays FIP as Regal & Phillips argue over the whether the lack of competition for The Ascension reflects badly on them. Kalisto finally makes the hot tag, and Local cleans house, with Ricardo moving a lot faster than I've ever seen him. Just when it looks bad for the champs, Local gets caught with a big STO, and they finish with the Fall of Man. Best title defense I've seen for The Ascension so far. Of course, it's the first non two minute squash I've seen from them.
*** Fun show so far.
-A pretty great video profiles Tyler Breeze. Again, why don't they do this stuff more on the main shows?
-Match 3: Sami Zayn VS Tyler Breeze (#1 Contender's Match)
-New music for both guys. Breeze's is much, much better. They fight over arm locks to start, and Sami wins that. They then take turns pulling each other's hair, and Sami has the obvious advantage there too. Breeze manages to send Zayn from the second turnbuckle to the floor, and that allows him to take control for a bit. Breeze works a front facelock, but gets thrown off by Zayn. Zayn sends Breeze outside, and follows up with an Arabian Press, drawing a big "NXT" chant. Back in, Zayn gets a big cross-body for two. It takes a couple tries, but Zayn manages to hit Blue Thunder for two.
Breeze fires back with a mule kick and a spinning Impaler DDT for two, then pulls Zayn out of the corner into a sit-out powerbomb for two. Nice spot there. Breeze pounds away as Zayn looks out of it, but Zayn then catches Breeze with an exploder into the corner, drawing a "this is awesome" chant. They do a boo-yay punch exchange, then Zayn almost runs into the ref before getting schoolboyed for two. I totally bought that as a finish. Zayn runs into a NASTY superkick for another close two count.
Breeze pounds away as Zayn fires up, then they go through a convoluted series of counters, leading to a fucked up suplex bomb from Zayn for two. Breeze slides outside to avoid the Heluva Kick, but Zayn hits him with a flip dive instead. Back in, Zayn goes for the Heluva Kick, but Breeze catches him with an accidental low blow, then finishes with the Beauty Shot.
****1/2 This was fucking great, and a legit WWE match of the year contender. Zayn was awesome as alway, but this was big break out match for Breeze, in a spot where he needed one. The finish also adds to the build to the inevitable turn for Zayn, which should be interesting.
-Bret talks to Natalya, ostensibly about her match tonight.
-Lana comes out to introduce Rusev, who angrily waves the Russian flag. Mojo Rawley interrupts to stick up for the good old US of A and "shove that flag right up [Rusev's] Putin". That...does not go well for Mojo, and the massive shit kicking he takes immediately turns Rusev babyface on DVDVR.
-A video previews the women's title match.
-KRIS KRISTOFFERSON IS HERE!
-So is Paige! She sucks up to the crowd, and puts over the NXT Women's title as the key to the future.
-Match 4 for the NXT Women's Championship: Charlotte (w/Ric Flair) VS Natalya (w/Bret Hart)
-Charlotte has new Flair-themed music. They open up with some pretty smoove chain wrestling, and nice little touches like constantly shoving and sneering at each other. Nattie gets a nice rollup and a bodyscissors, then they exchange slaps before Charlotte lands a big chop to take control. Naitch struts in celebration. Nattie goes for a sleeper, but Charlotte counters into a backpack stunner for two. Charlotte controls for a bit, then escapes an abdominal stretch before hitting a low dropkick. Nattie comes back with a dropkick of her own for two, then knocks Charlotte off the apron after a trademark Flair Flip.
Charlotte wrenches Nattie off the apron to the floor by her leg, and gets two off that. Charlotte tries a moonsault, but takes forever setting it up, so it misses. That draws a "This is Awesome" chant as Bret tries to get Nattie back in the match. Nattie gets the Sharpshooter, but Charlotte manages to hang on, and roll through before countering into a figure 4. That was pretty damned slick, actually. Tom Phillips somehow gets confused as to who is applying the hold, as they exchange slaps then roll across th ring, leading to Charlotte hanging onto the hold as she rolls off the apron, but Nattie stays on.
Charlotte breaks the hold at four, then shoves Nattie into the steps. Charlotte goes to re-apply the figure 4, but thinks better of it, and gets a Sharpshooter. Nattie hangs on and tries to counter, but Charlotte kicks her away, and finishes with Bow Down to the Queen to win the title.
**** This was pretty damned great, actually. They did a good job of making it look like an actual struggle as opposed to two people running through (and trying to remember) their spots, which is always greatly appreciated by yours truly.
-They do the RoH handshake of respect that almost always makes no sense, with this being no exception. Charlotte has a total babyface celebration, which means they better be turning her soon.
-A video previews the main event.
-Nattie wishes Tyson good luck.
-Match 5 for the NXT Championship: Adrian Neville [c] VS Tyson Kidd
-This is probably the only show Tyson Kidd has and will ever headline that will be seen by more than 100 people. They have a feeling out process that lasts a couple minutes before Tyson takes complete control, hitting a suicide dive for two. Neville fights back, and they collide in mid air for a double KO. Neville lands a series of kicks, then fights off a bulldog attempt before hanging Kidd in the Tree of Woe and hitting a hesitation dropkick. Neville follows up with a springboard forearm for two, but Kidd fires back, and counters a suicide dive attempt with a kick to the head for two.
Kidd goes up top, but Neville cuts him off. Kidd blocks a superplex and goes for a sunset bomb, but Neville flips out of that, then catches Kidd with a pop-up sit-out powerbomb for two. Neville hits a stiff kick to the chest, but Kidd counters a springboard into a Russian leg sweep off the second rope for two in a nice spot. Neville gets his knees up to counter a splash. Kidd stops short, but gets rolled up for two. Kidd fires back with a kick, then they fight over a suplex, spilling out over the top in the process. They both barely make it back in at nine, then get caught calling spots on camera.
Kidd almost gets a Sharpshooter, then transitions into a Dungeon Lock (triangle choke with the legs locked as well), and adds some short kicks to the head while he has the hold on, but Neville hangs on and grabs the ropes to force a break. Neville gets caught up in the ropes, and Kidd hits a somersault leg drop for two. Kidd shows some frustration then goes up top. Kidd fights Neville off twice, but Neville runs the ropes a third time and hits a super rana, followed by the Red Arrow to retain.
***1/2 Pretty strong main event with both guys giving it everything they had, and fighting with desparation. Can't ask for much more than that.
-Kidd refuses a handshake after the match, and sulks his way to the back.
-FINAL THOUGHTS: This was an awesome show after some pretty lackluster TVs. The main roster guys are really going to have to step it up Sunday if they don't want to be outclassed by their supposed lessers in NXT.
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