NXT 5/1/14

-HHH opens the show, talking about how the future of WWE comes through NXT, and announces the upcoming special NXT: Takeover.

-Hosts are William Regal, Byron Saxton, & Tom Phillips.

-Match 1: Tyson Kidd VS Bo Dallas

-Bo's new entrance is AMAZING. Bo knocks Kidd over with a shoulderblock, then celebrates before giving Kidd a thumbs up. Kidd comes back with an elbow, followed by a stiff kick to the back. Kidd beats Bo down in the corner, then mocks him. Bo rolls outside to avoid a top rope move, then sweeps Kidd's leg out from underneath him, causing Kidd to crash onto the apron. Bo gets a couple near-falls, and works Kidd over as the crowd sings "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands". We get it guys, you know Bo & Bray are brothers. Good for you. There's a dueling chant as Kidd fights out of a headlock, and Bo avoids a dropkick before dropping a couple knees for two. Bo locks on a cravat, but Kidd fights out, and hits a modified rana to send Bo face-first into the buckles.

Kidd hits a kick combination, followed by a low dropkick for two. Bo gets a belly-to-belly out of nowhere for two, then follows up with a rope walk bulldog for two. Kidd avoids getting crotched on the top, hits an enziguiri, and finishes with the Blockbuster.

**1/2 Pretty decent action, best straight match I've seen from Bo so far. A little weak to see a former dominant champion go down so quickly, but Kidd is finally getting a big push, even if it is on NXT.

-Bo isn't happy about the loss, and the crowd sings the "Goodbye Song" at him.

-Comacho says he's no party pooper, and that his parties make Rose's look like Bingo Night at the local Elks Lodge. Rose and his entourage interrupt to party. Comacho is not amused.

-The brackets for the NXT Women's title tournament are shown.

-The NXT Women's title means more to Bayley than hugs and/or high fives. Sasha Banks is ready to take over.

-Match 2-NXT Women's Championship Tournament First Round: Bayley VS Sasha Banks (w/Charlotte)

-Sasha gets the early jump as the crew talk about Sasha being a favorite despite not having won a match since the launch of the Network. Bayley gets a backslide for two, then a springboard into an armdrag. Bayley follows up with a bearhug bash into the buckles before punching Sasha in the back several times. Bayley hits a suplex for two, and a backdrop moments later. Bayley gets a couple Polish Hammers, a flyimg clothesline and the belly-to-Bayley, but Banks rolls to the apron to avoid being pinned. Banks comes back with Bankrupt (Damien Sandow's original finisher) for two, then fights off another belly-to-Bayley attempt before hitting a backstabber into a crossface for the submission.

-*** Pretty strong stuff, and a really slick finish.

-A video profiles Brodus Clay and his path of rage through NXT.

-Adam Rose is next.

-Match 3: Adam Rose VS Danny Burch

-Rose prances around before getting bashed in the buckles, which pisses him off. Rose takes over, gives the crowd THE CLAP, and finishes with a cravat driver called the Party Foul. Much better finisher than his lat one.

-SQUASH Hopefully they figure everything out with Rose's in-ring work before Monday.

-Comacho takes out the guy in Rose's entourage who's dressed like a luchadore.

-Brodus Clay wants to take everything from Adrian Neville.

-Natalya gives a pretty bland pre-match promo. In her defense, it's hard to sell a clear step down as something good. Layla does the same, then looks awkwardly at the camera before the director calls "cut".

-Match 4-NXT Women's Championship Tournament First Round: Natalya VS Layla

-Winner gets Sasha Banks. Layla dominates early and gets a surfboard, but Natalya escapes, and hits a suplex, followed by a discus clothesline. Layla blocks one Sharpshooter attempt, but a second one finishes shortly afterwards.

-* I think it says something that the NXT women are given much more time than the main roster divas.

-Adrian Neville has his teeth back, and says he'll win by pinfall this time, rather than count-out.

-Match 5: Oliver Grey VS Mojo Rawley

-Oliver slugs Rawley down, already doing better than he did against Comacho. The crew talk about Grey as if he's turned heel off-screen. Rawley finishes with the Hyperdrive in about a minute, and that's it for Grey.

-SQUASH It's all Rawley's capable of at this point. Poor Grey.

-Aiden English is done suffering fools and goes after Rawley, who turns things around and clotheslines English out over the top, then English backs off.

-Match 6 for the NXT Championship: Adrian Neville [c] VS Brodus Clay [No DQ]

-Clay charges before the bell, and Neville low-bridges him to counter. Neville lands a series of kicks as the match officially starts, including a low superkick. Neville looks to finish, but Clay rolls out of the way. Neville hits a dropkick in the corner, but gets caught flying off the top and shoved into the corner. Clay gets Neville in the Tree of Woe, and hits a running knee followed by a throw. Clay drops an elbow for one, then literally shakes as he climbs the ropes for a sitdown splash, which gets two. Clay gets an overhead backbreaker, but Neville goes to the eyes to escape, followed by a chop block and a couple low kicks.

Clay comes back with a headbutt and a powerbomb, followed by a second rope splash for two. Clay gets mad and grabs the title belt, Neville superkicks the belt back into Clay's face, then finishes with the Red Arrow to retain.

*1/4 I wasn't impressed with this one. Their fist match was a lot better than that.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: OK enough show, thanks to the first two matches. It was mostly build towards Takeover, and I'm surprised they didn't save Neville/Clay for then. I do wonder who is next in line.