NXT 5/15/14

-Match 1: NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension VS Buddy Murphy & Elias Sampson

-Another quick squash for the champs. Sampson doesn't even tag in before they finish Murphy with the Fall of Man. Odd bit on commentary as William Regal questions why they keep facing jobbers. Good point. SQUASH

-The Ascension want someone new to destroy. They are answered by El Local & Kalisto. I really hope Local gets officially revealed as Ricardo at some point.

-Sami Zayn tends to obsess about things...and not get them. This time will be different, though.

-TYLER BREEZE HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING. That's a great shtick to bring back. It's been over 20 years since HBK had it, so it's fair game.

-Match 2-NXT Women's Championship Tournament Semi-Final: Alexa Bliss VS Charlotte (w/Sasha Bank)

-Pretty nice match with the veteran Charlotte controlling the whole way, focusing on the back and midsection. Charlotte actually WORKS holds when she has one on, something a lot of the main roster men don't actually do. Charlotte hits a back breaker to put Alexa in position to her flippy face plant, now called Bow Down to the Queen. **1/2

-Match 3: Mojo Rawley VS Aiden English

-Cute bit as Mojo gets in a three-point-stance, and English has to go outside to avoid him. This isn't the disaster a longer (read: past two minutes) match from Rawley would have seemed like a couple weeks ago. Mojo starts fast, English gets a heat segment, then Mojo makes his comeback and finishes with the Hyper Drive. Basic, but watchable. ** Mojo desperately needs a new finish still.

-Tyson Kidd notes that all the people making noise in WWE today came from NXT.

-Match 4: Angelo Dawkins VS Colin Cassidy

-An extended squash for Cassidy, and the most interesting part is CJ Parker walking through the crowd with a recyclable sign and the commentators' reaction to it. Cassidy finishes with the East River Crossing (spinning Rock Bottom). 1/2*

-Bo Dallas tries to talk JBL into letting him into the NXT title scene. JBL books Bo in a match for next week against Big E. If Bo wins, he gets a title shot. If he loses, he leaves NXT. Bo trying to remain positive throughout the segment is tremendous.

-Match 5 for the NXT #1 Contendership: Tyson Kidd VS Tyler Breeze VS Sami Zayn

-It's pretty briskly-paced, if not particularly memorable. The usual triple threat tropes are in full display here. Zayn hits the Heluva Kick on Breeze, but Kidd knocks Zayn to the floor, and finishes Breeze with a big elbow, as Zayn is a second too late to break up the pin. **1/2

-The most interesting part of this match (at least to me) is Zayn's heart broken reaction to not winning. The way the camera lingers on his face definitely seems to be foreshadowing a heel turn, which could be interesting.

-FINAL THOUGHTS: This show was all about setting up NXT Takeover in two weeks, and it did a good job at making me want to see it. I'll have the week off, so I'll actually be able to check it out live.