THE NEXT REPORT - EPISODE 269

Episode 269 – Arnold Sports Festival Special – March 18th 2015

NOTE: this was written before the events of March 25th.

One week before the next NXT event, the event comes to us for the first time on the road. Away from the confines of the NXT Arena at Full Sail University, there was no doubt that it was a risky strategy taking performers weren’t used to doing their jobs away from their comfort zone, but its also a necessary evil for WWE to do so. The way wrestlers learn their craft, the ins and outs, is on the road and not performing once every two or three weeks. This was a brilliant idea by Triple H and I hope to see more NXT house shows in the future. They are after all the stars of tomorrow and they can only get themselves ready by performing four days a week in different towns.

When the NXT stars aren’t performing on television, they sit dormant in the back or in development trying to develop their skill. With house shows which would be guaranteed to sell out, those stars who aren’t performing for a few weeks at a time on television could be honing their craft elsewhere. It’s a fool proof idea. Here, at the Arnold Sports Festival, we would get a small sample of what could be possible if Triple H took these men and women on the road and though the LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio was as drastic change from the NXT Arena in that the stage was almost touching the ring apron and the capacity was larger, it still screamed NXT from its very core.

Before the action kicked off, the show began with a video package highlighting the main event of show which would be a non-title grudge match between Kevin Owens and Alex Riley which only began a few weeks prior and hadn’t yet been given the time to blossom. We were also shown a match plate promoting NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks vs Alexa Bliss in yet another non-title match.

Tyler Breeze vs Kalisto

The opening bout of this week’s NXT programme was a departure from what we were used to whilst also highlighting what could be possible if NXT introduced a fourth division into their ranks, that being a cruiserweight or light heavyweight ranking for its smaller and more agile stars. Now that titles actually mean something in promotion and every belt is fought over with passion and given a decent storyline before its thrown on television unlike WWE’s main roster prize’s, an NXT Light Heavyweight Championship would be yet another jewel in the crown of the brand. It would give its smaller talent something to fight for because men Kalisto are never going to be NXT Champion, and whilst the action is regularly gripping, this could be something which further sets NXT apart from Raw and Smackdown.

In Columbus, Ohio it was Tyler Breeze who was the favourite with the new NXT audience. His aura screams future star but I’m not convinced it’s on WWE’s main roster. He looks like Dolph Ziggler and his character has been done to death. I can’t see a massive future for Tyler Breeze on WWE’s main stage because of his size and there are very little opponents with whim he could have a stunning one on one bout with because Vince McMahon doesn’t believe that cruiserweight action has a place on his main brand, but here in NXT there are numerous opportunities for Breeze to shine. One day I believe he will be NXT Champion because that is what the audience want.

Kalisto in singles action brought about a different feeling to this week’s NXT show. We’re used to seeing the masked luchadore compete in tag team action with Sin Cara, but as Sin Cara was prepping for what will ultimately turn out to be a pointless appearance at WrestleMania 31 as a participant in the second annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in which he’ll be eliminated without fanfare of care before returning to NXT the following week, Kalisto stepped out on is own to open the show and judging by the performance he put in here then Kalisto could make it as a singles performer and there is a place for a future feud between the masked marvels.

Beginning the bout with the usual Lock Up, it was the bigger Tyler Breeze who gained the upper hand by using his power to force Kalisto into the corner. Instead of following the referee’s orders to break the hold before the count of five, Tyler Breeze used his initiative and twisted his momentum into an Armbar. Lording it over Kalisto, Breeze was too busy posing to the audience to notice Kalisto wriggle his way out of the hole with a simple roll which allowed Kalisto to flip Tyler to the canvas. Nursing only wounded pride, Tyler Breeze backed his way into the corner regrouping his game plan. After a few moments, both men initiated a second Lock Up which Tyler Breeze used to his advantage in order to apply a Headlock.

Trapped in a tight predicament, Kalisto gripped and clawed at anything he could get his hands on in order to escape. After several attempts which came up short, Kalisto found a hand full of hair useful in persuading Breeze to break the hold and used that momentum to fire his narcissistic foe into the ropes. As the tide seemed as if it would turn in the Mexican’s favour, Breeze once again used his savvy to sway the momentum in his direction and floored Kalisto with a Running Shoulderblock as he rebounded from the ropes. With a swagger which befits a character such as the selfie loving Breeze, Tyler went to the well once more but was forced to change his plan at the last moment and Leapfrog Kalisto when the luchadore found his feet and ducked Breeze’s attack.

Flinging himself into the ropes, Kalisto’s attack was thwarted by a second Leapfrog which saw Tyler Breeze roll backwards in order to execute a head scissors which ended when Kalisto telegraphed the manoeuvre and hit a forward roll through Breeze’s legs and landed on his hands. Walking on his appendages in a neat looking move, Kalisto stunned the LC Pavilion with a Jumping Springboard Headscissors Takedown which looked the bee’s knees. Firing in kicks and slaps to the legs and chest, Kalisto took flight once more with a Springboard Armdrag from the top rope before Tyler Breeze rolled to the arena floor in order to escape the onslaught being aimed his way. Slowing the pace of the bout down to one which suited him, Tyler Breeze was shaken by a Suicide Dive attempt by his smaller rival which turned out to be a mere threat when Kalisto hit the ropes with his neck and shoulders to stop himself flying to ringside.

Climbing back into the ring after a short rest period, Tyler Breeze acted upon and advancing Kalisto with a Backdrop over the top rope which put Kalisto on the ring apron where he clocked Breeze with a stunning kick to the head over the top rope. As Breeze clutched his money maker and staggered into the middle of the ring, Kalisto lined up his opponent and hit a Springboard into the ring only for his attempt to be countered with a perfect Dropkick to the abdomen. It looked really professional. Scampering to take advantage of his counter, Tyler Breeze covered Kalisto for a near fall and when that didn’t work was forced to conjure up a different strategy. Pulling Kalisto up by his mask, Breeze hurled the masked marvel into the turnbuckle where he proceeded to stomp away on his foe.

With Kalisto seated in the corner, Tyler Breeze stuck his foot into the throat of Sin Cara’s tag team partner and choked him with all the might he had left. Not allowing Kalisto time to recover, Tyler Breeze threw his smaller victim over the middle rope and proceeded to choke him once more, driving the wind from his lungs. Dragging Kalisto from the rope into the middle of the ring, Tyler Breeze covered Kalisto for a Leg Drop and count of two as if just choking someone would get the job done anyway. Using his frustration to synch Kalisto into a Rear Chinlock, the programme took an early break in order to hype Sting vs Triple H at WrestleMania 31. Coming back from the ad break and Tyler Breeze was still in charge.

Breaking the Rear Chinlock, Tyler Breeze drove his knee into the gut further winding his rival. Ducking a Running Clothesline, Kalisto was able to execute and connect with a Springboard Spiral Crossbody and his Kalisto Kick before charging into the ropes and slamming Breeze with a Hurricanrana Face Plant as Breeze was knelt in the middle of the ring. It was a lovely series of moves which kept the bout chugging along nicely. Though his efforts only garnered him a count of two, Kalisto was on a roll and following a stiff Running Knee in the corner he attempted an STS which was countered by Tyler Breeze. Pushing Kalisto into the ropes, Breeze’s Clothesline was again ducked and as he more agile star rebounded with what would have been a stupendous Handspring Crossbody, ‘The King of Cuteville’ proved he wasn’t just a pretty face when he countered the move with his Super Model Kick. It was excellent and the fans believed so to with chants of ‘That was gorgeous!’

In despair that one of his best moved only managed to get him a heated near fall, Tyler Breeze allowed his emotions to get the better of him and following more stomps in the corner, Breeze failed to spot a Kalisto fight back brewing which began with a double foot kick to the jaw. Finding his was back to his feet, Kalisto cracked Tyler Breeze with a nice Dropkick to the knee and a thrilling Inzaguri which put Breeze on the canvas. Slowly scaling the top turnbuckle, Kalisto puffed and panted as he stood on the summit and surveyed his surroundings. With Tyler Breeze dormant below, Kalisto flung himself from the turnbuckle with an unforgettable 450 Splash for a killer near fall which Tyler grabbed the rope to break.

With fans thrilled beyond compare, Tyler Breeze made his way to the ropes and a vertical base as Kalisto attempted an Irish Whip. Clutching onto the rope to counter the Irish Whip, Breeze finally lost his grip and found himself hurled into the opposite rope. With time running short, Tyler Breeze was forced to dig deep into his reserves and as Kalisto executed a Handspring Kick he countered with The Beauty Shot for the victory. It was an excellent opener full of counters and thrilling moves which was just the ticket to open NXT’s first endeavour away from the NXT Arena. Not only that, but this further affirmed my belief that a Light Heavyweight division would be a profitable and enhancing venture for NXT to delve into.

Alex Riley’s Revenge

As Tyler Breeze was making his way back to the locker room, we were shown the match plate for the main event of the show in which Alex Riley would battle Kevin Owens. Though we all knew this was coming, none of us really thought it would come this quickly. After all, we all remember William Regal telling Alex Riley before he signed his talent contract that he would only get Kevin Owens when Regal believed he was good and ready. Yet, Alex Riley had only had one match since returning to the ring so how could WWE possibly justify Riley being ready?

Worse still, the video package which followed the match announcement included the William Regal statement. Why show that? Why make everyone who has been following this brand loyally suddenly question if those in charge knew what they were doing? There couldn’t have been anyone watching NXT who asked the very same question. By last week’s showing which was edited down in this video package to make Riley look good, The Miz’s former right hand man was months away from being ready to challenge the great Kevin Owens and his match should have been the culmination of months of hype. Not given away after just three weeks.

Alexa Bliss Interview

Following the video package highlighting Alex Riley’s revenge in the main event of this broadcast, we were shown an interview backstage with Alexa Bliss who had one hell of a tan job from the week previous. Honestly, she looked like she’d been tangoed it was ludicrous how orange Bliss was and I’m sure the audience in her home town noticed it also. Here, Alexa Bliss was speaking on her upcoming bout with NXT Women’s Champion, Sasha Banks:

“I am so excited to be here in Columbus, Ohio. My home town! I’m so excited for Columbus to see what Alexa Bliss is all about and what Alexa Bliss is capable of. But on a more serious note, I am facing the NXT Women’s Champion in Sasha Banks. And she knows I’m gunning for her. And Sasha Banks is going to find out what Alexa Bliss is capable of.”

It was a standard interview which possessed nothing in its main body. It was as if the NXT writers had run out of things to say and were pushed for time to write her something of note. Even more off putting was the way Alexa kept referring to herself in the third person. This isn’t what is expected of an NXT talent even if they’re not great on the mic. However, Bliss isn’t completely blameless on this occasion. Yes, she could have suggested something more gripping as according to Triple H the NXT talent have that power but the blame lies with creative. They know these wrestlers need something more concrete and they failed to give it to her on this occasion.

NXT Weekend Highlights

Instead of another match, NXT instead aired edited highlights of their weekend in Columbus, Ohio at the Arnold Sports Festival. It wasn’t necessarily what we wanted to see because we tune into NXT for the gripping bouts and not what goes on outside the ring. We get plenty of that with Raw and Smackdown and pay-per view events so it wasn’t necessarily needed here. However, the video package proved to be useful in giving us a glimpse of the people behind the characters and none were more charming than Sasha Banks who was shown taking time out of her schedule to spend a day at a children’s hospital.

The beautiful Banks is usually bitchy and self serving, but the woman behind the character is both loving and charming. She gives off the aura that you really would love to get to know her with the character present. If Sasha Banks keeps this up, then she’s going to fit into WWE’s main roster perfectly and whether she’s a heel or a face then she’ll fall into the hearts of fans be they, men, women or children. This was enlightening to see and credit to WWE for including this and not allowing us to believe that Sasha was a cold hearted bitch through and through.

Apart from the children’s hospital meeting, we were shown other highlights of the weekend activities which included exclusive matches and Triple H being inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame by Arnold Schwarzenegger for his services to the public. The honour will be repaid on March 28th when Triple H inducts Arnold into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2015. Throughout these highlights, an interview with Triple H was played over the action in which Hunter provided some eye opening comments. Telling us that inspiration leads to great things, Triple H tells us that NXT is now a brand on its own and no longer a developmental brand to breed stars for Raw and Smackdown.

These comments were welcome. For anyone who isn’t an NXT regular viewer, it’s easy to tune into the show on the WWE Network and form the judgment that these stars are just here to be made for future use on the main roster. This is what we needed to hear from the man who will take the reigns of the company when McMahon finally steps down. Maybe the future is in the correct hands after all.

Alex Riley and Finn Balor Discuss Kevin Owens

Returning us to the activities of the broadcast, we were shown Alex Riley gearing up for his battle against Kevin Owens in the main event of the show. Approached by the man who will challenge Kevin Owens for the NXT Championship, Finn Balor, the two friends discussed Kevin Owens and Alex Riley’s need for vengeance with Finn Balor giving Alex Riley a warning:

“Riley, what’s the crack mate? Listen, I know you got Kevin Owens tonight but I’ve got him next week and just so you know, I’ll be watching tonight like a hawk. “

Alex Riley interjected:

“Good. I want you to watch. Because everything that Kevin Owens has done to me I’m about to do to him tonight. I’m going to humiliate the NXT Champion. For Kevin Owens after tonight, there isn’t going to be a tomorrow, because it’s time to rage.”

With one last warning, Finn Balor tried to warn Alex Riley about the NXT Champion:

“Listen, do not overlook Kevin Owens. We all seen what he done to Sami Zayn at takeover and we haven’t seen Adrian Neville since he faced Kevin Owens. So do not overlook Kevin Owens or for you, there will be no tomorrow.”

It wasn’t a thrilling confrontation. I mean, the pair said everything you’d expect them to say and Alex Riley looked really pumped up when talking about what he was going to do to the NXT Champion but sadly it was never believable. After just three weeks of hype, no one believed that Alex Riley stood a chance and that is how it would prevail when the time rolled around. What I would have preferred to see would have been Alex Riley confront Finn Balor about not coming to his recue when Kevin Owens first attacked him weeks prior.

Had Alex Riley stood up to Finn Balor and questioned him about standing and watching him get his arse handed to him it would have been a much more interesting piece. Especially had Alex Riley accused Finn Balor of being a coward and only thinking of himself. This way, when Finn Balor came out at the end of the main event Alex Riley could have turned heel and attacked Balor setting up a triple threat match for the NXT Championship somewhere down the line, thus keeping Riley in the public eye.

Wesley Blake vs Colin Cassidy

Following a look behind the scenes of NXT which gave us a rare insight into how the show is staged, we were presented with our second bout of the evening as Colin Cassidy challenged one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions who he and Enzo Amore will battle on March 25th where the fate of the doubles gold will be decided. As I’ve said before, I believe that Carmella will turn on Amore and Cassidy in order to prolong the feud and give NXT its first real, meaty tag team rivalry which could last until summer especially since not every star competes every week.

In recent weeks, though we haven’t seen it on camera, it has been said that Enzo Amore has been ultra protective over Carmella in that he hasn’t wanted anyone talking to her or going near her without him present. I believe this is NXT laying the foundations for a Carmella turn though she’s already a heel so it would just be a betrayal and not a surprising one. It’s believable that she’d betray Cassidy and Amore to escape his protective nature and side with the NXT Tag Team Champions. Of course, this will eventually lead to Blake and Murphy losing the titles but not before a lengthily and interesting feud.

Before this match got underway, Enzo Amore and Colin Cassidy who were accompanied by Carmella began the bout with their usual patter before the subject turned to Blake and Murphy who were in the ring before Carmella’s men made their way to the ring. Getting their ‘you can’t teach that’ speech out of the way, Colin Cassidy took to the microphone in order to flex his verbal talents which have been less than satisfactory over the past few months:

“Columbus, Ohio we are here for the Arnold. And Arnold liked to pump iron. We, we like to pump fists. And you Wesley Blake, you better pump the breaks because you’re about to run into a fricking road block!”

Enzo Amore then took the microphone:

“And as for the Australian kid, why don’t you diggery-do yourself a favour while you still have that NXT Tag Team title, kicks rocks and flip flops, break a toe and skedaddle sweet boy!”

Thankfully, after Enzo Amore had spewed forth his bullshit for which he garnered laughs, Colin Cassidy resumed control:

“You two are looking at the next NXT Tag Team Champions. And there’s only one word to describe you and I’m going to spell it out for you…”

We all know where it went from here so I won’t bothered transcribing the rest for you and we’ll jump directly into the bout which wasn’t as bad as your Wrestling God originally believed it to be. Once again beginning the bout with a Lock Up, it was Wesley Blake who took control of his towering rival by turning the Lock Up into a Wrist lock. Admittedly, it wasn’t the best course action for Wesley Blake to take and there was no way he was going to outmatch Big Cass for power but credit to him for trying. Almost laughing off his rival, Cassidy plunged his hand into Blake’s face and drove him into the corner.

Taking the initiative before Colin Cassidy could gain the upper hand dictate the flow of the bout with his strength and superior height, Wesley Blake slipped from the corner and applied a Waistlock which he ably turned into a second Wrist Lock. Unfortunately for one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions, Colin Cassidy wouldn’t be controlled and responded by shooting Blake into the ropes with the intention to blast his opponent with a Clothesline and Back Elbow which were both ducked. Gaining momentum as he dodged the giant Cassidy’s attack, Blake became over confident and ran directly into a hard knee into the gut.

Pulling Blake to his feet, Colin Cassidy rammed a second knee into the gut and pounded away on his back as Wesley Blake stumbled into the corner where he became ensnared in Cassidy’s trap. Following in on his offence, Amore’s partner drove in a several hard right hands to the stomach driving the wind from his rival. This was a repetitive occurrence which happened in two corners before Big Cass hauled Blake across the ring with a thunderous Hip Toss. Revelling in his dominance, Colin Cassidy hurled Wesley Blake into the opposite corner and pitched him into the air with a Backdrop which the recipient sold well.

Selling his back with conviction, Wesley Blake rolled to the ring apron to stop the punishment but was forced to think on his feet when Cassidy just kept coming. As Colin grabbed his hair in order to bring him back into the ring, Blake clung onto Cassidy’s head and drive him throat first over the top rope. Finally, one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions had a foot hold in the bout and he wasn’t about to let it go or go down without a fight. Rushing back into the ring as Cassidy began to stumble; Blake clattered into his knee with a Chop-Block and aimed kicks into the appendage with the intention to take Cassidy off of his vertical base where he was most dominant.

Strangely, after working over the leg of Colin Cassidy, Wesley Blake left the target alone and even allowed him to climb back to his feet. Using the ring ropes as leverage, Blake executed a perfect Springboard Forearm Smash for the count of two. Needing to keep Cassidy grounded, Wesley Blake applied the Million Dollar Dream for a lengthily break in action while Big Cass got his breath back. Recovered and ready to complete the remainder of the bout, Colin Cassidy fought his way to his feet and broke the hold with a massive Back Suplex which he followed up with two bone shattering Shoulderblocks. Losing the momentum he had previously, Wesley Blake needed to find an exit route and quickly.

Staggering to his feet, Wesley Blake was hurled into the corner and pelted with hard elbow shots and relentless punches. Backing away into the opposite corner, Colin Cassidy charged at his prone target and connected with a sweet Corner Splash which looked dismal but he made up for that with a cracking Sidewalk Slam. With his tag team partner in dire jeopardy, Buddy Murphy jumped onto the ring apron where Carmella joined him and the pair argued. Receiving a Big Boot for his troubles, Buddy Murphy’s distraction was ample enough to allow Wesley Blake to sneak up on Cassidy, force him against the ropes and roll him up for the victory. During the fracas, Carmella was knocked from the ring apron and supposedly injured her knee.

It was a decent enough bout for two men who aren’t used to competing in singles action. There wasn’t a lot of flow or back and forth action but Wesley Blake managed to sell Colin Cassidy’s threat and power which should hold he and Enzo Amore in good stead when they meet Blake and Murphy for the NXT Tag Team Championships in the near future.

Dana Brooke is Coming

Before we were presented with the grudge match between Sasha Banks and Alexa Bliss, NXT aired a match plate promotion Dana Brooke who is said to be the next big thing in NXT’s women’s division. We’re told that Dana Brooke is ready to make an impact in NXT and then shown video footage of Brooke in action over NXT’s weekend in Columbus.

There was problem with Brooke’s participation however. The video footage didn’t show her in wrestling action once. Instead, it showed plenty of footage of Dana Brooke pumping weights and competing in the bodybuilding tournament as well as posing on stage and in the ring. For me, this was ill advised. You see, an NXT audience likes to see a talent’s passion for the business and not anything else. The only impression one got from this video package was that Dana Brooke really cares about bodybuilding and little else. An NXT audience could be forgiven for believing that Dana Brooke is using NXT as a stepping stone to better things. If that is the case, then she won’t make it far in the brand or in WWE.

Following the video package, we were shown a promotional poster advertising Dana Brooke. It read that Dana Brooke was coming soon to NXT.

Sasha Banks vs Alexa Bliss

There were mixed feelings about this contest. You see, Alexa Bliss has only been back in NXT for one week and already she’s eyeing the NXT Women’s Championship as her next goal. Don’t get me wrong, her ambition is admirable but this smells of yet another Alex Riley storyline where NXT have rushed a talent into a feud too quickly. Instead of making it a slow burner where Sasha Banks avoided Alexa Bliss for weeks until Bliss forced her hand and made her accept a match, NXT have rushed Bliss into the picture when she hasn’t actually earned it. By staging a non-title match between the duo, NXT risk irking their audience with Alexa Bliss.

Whilst Alexa Bliss is meant to be a babyface and possibly the next big sensation in NXT, the chances of fans accepting her as such if they believe she’s pushing in the line are slim. You see, there are several other women in line for shot first including Becky Lynch and Bayley who have worked hard in order to get a leg up the ladder. Many fans believe that Alexa Bliss has been pushed this in front of everyone else because of her looks or a potential relationship with someone backstage and I have to concur. It simply isn’t fair that she gets this opportunity one week after returning and her skills in the ring leave a lot to be desired.

Thankfully, the NXT audience agree with me. Even though Alexa Bliss was competing in front of her hometown crowd, the reaction to her was luke warm at best. In contrast to the overwhelming reception Sasha Banks received, Alexa Bliss has a long way to go before she’s accepted by the NXT fans and there is no way she can even be considered as the next NXT Women’s Champion in the next year. With that said, you can already guess that the bout began with a Lock Up and seeing as she was at home it was Alexa Bliss who was permitted the early advantage by blasting Sasha Banks with forearms to the face which were supposedly designed to break Banks’ nose as she had been said to have done to Bliss months earlier.

Clocking a dazed Banks with her forearms shots, Alexa Bliss changed tact and executed a very messy heel trip which cast doubt over her ability in the ring. It looked horrible. With Sash Banks face down on the canvas, Bliss jumped on her back and rode her hard whilst pounding her face into the mat with the nose being the target. Pulling Banks up from the mat, Bliss lacked ring savvy and didn’t see an oncoming knee being propelled her way which was buried into her mid-section. Posing to the fans, Sasha Banks took too long to follow up her offense and allowed Alexa Bliss to shrug her off. Feigning anger which looked as real as John Cena’s STF, Bliss strode across the ring only for Sasha to grab her by the trunks and pull her face first into the middle turnbuckle.

Giving herself a reprieve, Sash Banks took great pleasure in sticking her boot into the back of Bliss’ head and forcing her face first into buckle. The early going of the bout focused heavily on the injury Bliss was meant to have suffered months prior. Leaving alone the nose injury, Banks dug into her playbook early and set Bliss up on the middle rope before driving her knees into the mid-section with the leverage of the ropes. Pulling her challenger into the middle of the ring, Banks only managed to hold Bliss down for a count of two before the woman who was looking to snatch the NXT Women’s Championship; this was a non-title bout, kicked out. Annoyed that one of her most famous moves didn’t work, Sasha Banks slowed down an already crawling pace with a Rear Chinlock.

Sat in the centre of the ring for a sensible amount of time may not have been thrilling to watch, but at least it limited what Bliss had to do during the bout. Finally fighting back to her feet, Alexa Bliss bridged out of the move but her effort landed her on the knee of Banks who bent her rival across the limb with the move still applied. It looked decent but wouldn’t last as Bliss broke out of her tortuous position with shots to the gut and countered a Clothesline attempt with three forearms to the face. Unable to rock the NXT Women’s Champion, Alexa Bliss was quick in ducking another Clothesline and landing one of her own knocking Banks off kilter.

As both women climbed back to their feet, Alexa Bliss ducked a third Clothesline attempt and swept Sasha Banks’ legs out from underneath her. Feeling a victory coursing through her veins, Alexa Bliss nailed her Bliss Blitz Moonsault for what she sure was a massive win. Sadly for Bliss, Banks lived up to her title and kicked out on two. As Sasha Banks made her way into the corner, hurting from the collision, Bliss charged her and executed a lovely Springboard Roll Up for another close near fall. Banks was losing control of the situation and time was beginning to run out as Bliss hit a very weak Dropkick.

Rolling underneath the bottom rope to take refuge at ringside, Sasha Banks wasn’t ready for more onslaught and turned directly into an Alexa Bliss Crossbody from the ring apron. If Sasha Banks was going to go down then she wasn’t going to make it easy for Bliss to stand triumphant and in a repeat of the beginning of the bout, Banks grabbed a handful of tights and pulled Bliss face first into the ring apron. Grabbing Bliss by a handful of hair, Banks’ attempt to roll Alexa back into the ring was reversed and the number one contender rammed Banks face first into the ring post as the referee neared a count of ten. Rolling back inside, Bliss beat the referee’s count but the NXT Women’s Champion failed to do so handing Alexa a victory and advancing their feud.

It wasn’t pretty, but it was better than expected and seeing as it wasn’t given much time to flourish both women did their very best to put on a decent show and tell a sensible story. Yes, it paled in comparison to Sasha Banks vs Charlotte two weeks previous but this was all meant to a set up an NXT Women’s Championship Match one week later which would be announced later in the broadcast.

Kevin Owens Interview

Moment before his match with Alex Riley, a pissed off Kevin Owens was brought to task for his actions in the previous weeks. He had this to say about stepping into the ring with Alex Riley:

“Tonight, I’m going to make Alex Riley wish he’d never quit that nice cushy commentary job of his. But you know, I understand why he did it, he’s got to prove to himself that he can still do this but the fact is he cannot. Not against someone like me anyway. Not at this level. And as far as Finn Balor goes, next week is the match everybody has been waiting for including me. Because I honestly cannot wait to take him out and show everybody that no-one and I mean no-one is taking this away from me and my family.”

As usual, Kevin Owens shined in his role as annoyed NXT Champion. He didn’t have to shout or threaten, the look in his eyes are enough to unsettle anyone watching. I know I say this every week but Kevin Owens is a headline star in the making and should he advance onto the main roster then there’s no way he can a mid-card talent. Kevin Owens is going straight to the top.

Alexa Bliss Interview:

In a second interview following her victory over Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss spoke about defeating the NXT Women’s Championship:

“Oh my gosh this is incredible. I beat the NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks in my hometown Columbus, Ohio. I told Sasha I was gunning for her and that I was going to beat her and show her who’s boss.”

At this point, Alexa Bliss was interrupted by the NXT Women’s Champion Sasha Banks:

“Excuse me? Who’s Boss? You’re looking at the boss sweetheart. You never pinned me, I’m the NXT Women’s Champion.”

To further the confusion, NXT General Manager William Regal got involved in the confrontation:

“Ladies, ladies! There’s easily one way to settle this. Next week on this show Sasha Banks you will defend your NXT Women’s Championship against Alexa Bliss.”

It was a predictable announcement but one which was sure to irk the NXT audience. In the space of a few weeks, Alexa Bliss had gone from absent to number one contender without really doing anything of note. She hadn’t earned her spot or her opportunity. If this continues then fans are going to start turning on talent that NXT wants to go far.

The Main Event

Kevin Owens vs Alex Riley

I know how many times I’ve said this over the course of this one blog, but Kevin Owens vs Alex Riley came too soon. For NXT, this was a rushed job when it should have been a drawn out story of frustration for Alex Riley. Instead of William Regal promising Alex Riley a match when the General Manager believed he was ready and then giving him the bout one week after his return to the squared circle when he plainly wasn’t ready, Riley should have been given longer and livelier matches for three of four months in order to prove that he was ready for the challenge and then approached William Regal for the match he so urgently desired.

During those months, Kevin Owens could have kept taunting Alex Riley in promos and even appeared on stage during his matches to remind the audience that he hadn’t forgotten about Riley and NXT hadn’t forgotten about the feud. Then, after Alex Riley had gone to William Regal begging for a match, the Brit could have refused him the bout telling him that he still wasn’t ready. Annoyed with William Regal, Alex Riley would have then taken the situation into his own hands and attacked Kevin Owens which in turn would have cost him an important match. Kevin Owens would then have gone to Regal and demanded a match with Regal then insisting that Owens put the NXT Championship on the line. The match would then have been set after a slow build and an interesting story.

Instead, this was just rushed. It felt like something presented in order to just fill time instead of an actual rebirth for Alex Riley and once the bout had ended it was hard to see where the road panned out for the challenger. Fought under non-title rules, it was plain and clear that Alex Riley wasn’t ready for the task ahead of him when he entered the LC Pavilion to take up the challenge. He looked nervous and shaky as if he’d bitten off more than he could chew. It was obvious to everyone inside the arena that Riley wasn’t main event material and therefore this lacked the main event aura that other NXT programmes had as they came towards the end of their broadcast.

It was undeniable who the favourite was with the Columbus audience as floods of ‘Fight Owens Fight’ chants bombarded the NXT Champion as he stood toe to toe with Alex Riley in the middle of the ring. The sentiments of one week previous had well and truly been washed away and now Alex Riley wasn’t just another competitor, he was a road block on Kevin Owens’ path to immortality. The message was simple. He had to be removed and removed he would be. Breaking tradition, the bout began with a shoving match as both men carried off the aura of hate. For one of the first times in WWE in months, we had a believable rivalry on our hands. Following the heated shoving match, both men initiated in a Lock Up to kick off proceedings properly where Kevin Owens came out on the receiving end of Alex Riley’s rage.

Using the built up anger over the last few weeks, Riley managed to harness some reserved energy and forced Kevin Owens into the ropes and corner from the Lock Up. Releasing the move, a second shoving match ensued which ended when Owens feigned a second Lock Up and caught Riley square with a hard kick to the gut. With the NXT Champion in full control so early on in the contest, things looked very bleak for Riley who for the longest time showed no sign of battling back. Punishing his challenger for stepping up against him, the NXT Champion pounded him with hard right hands, kicks and Chops to the chest. Alex Riley looked no match.

Sizing his newest muse up, Kevin Owens took delight in driving his fist into Riley’s face and watching him flop to the canvas without resistance. With the momentum on his side, this match would have been over in minutes if Alex Riley couldn’t find his way back into the bout. Planting his boot firmly into Riley’s rib cage, Kevin Owens retrieved his play thing from the canvas and attempted a Short-Arm Clothesline which Alex managed to duck and avoid having his head taken off. Applying a Waistlock instead of hitting Owens with a heavy offence, Riley was taken by Owens’ momentum as the NXT Champion charged into the ropes and shrugged off his oppressor. Rolling backwards across the ring, Alex Riley climbed to his feet in time to duck a charge and connect with a crisp Dropkick as Owens rebounded off of the ropes.

Following up his momentum with a Running Elbow Splash, Riley came up short yet again when Kevin Owens caught his foot off of kick and nailed a big foot to the hamstring, which knotted up his muscles. Grabbing Riley by the head, Owens drove him into the turnbuckle with enough momentum to send Alex crashing to a seated position. Backing away, gathering speed, Owens launched himself from one corner to another with a Cannonball Splash which fully connected. Standing over Alex Riley’s prone body, Kevin Owens sold hatred better than anyone I’ve seen in months and the scathing look on his face was one to behold. If looks could kill, Alex Riley would be the latest wrestling tragedy.

Soaking up the ‘Kill Owens Kill’ chants which sounded raw and baying as if a crowd of savages had gathered to see the slaughter of a traitor, Kevin Owens blasted Riley with a Short-Arm Clothesline putting him on his back once again. Alex Riley had no friends here. Standing over Riley again, Kevin Owens provided the laughs by mocking his opponent. With open arms, Owens shouted at his victim, ‘Come on Riley! Rage!’ It just goes to prove that Kevin Owens doesn’t have to be physically active to be entertaining. For good measure, Owens dropped a big elbow on his prey for a count of two. As Alex Riley kicked out of the pinfall attempt, Kevin Owens slowed the pace of the bout and applied a Rear Chinlock which Riley clearly needed to regain his breath. He was heavily blow up by this point. It looked too easy for Kevin Owens.

Letting go of the move, Owens kicked Riley in the back only for Alex to battle back out of desperation with a Forearm shot across Owen’s face. The collision worked out better than Riley could have hoped for as Kevin Owens dropped to the canvas and rolled to the apron, where Riley took advantage and knocked the NXT Champion to ringside. Had Alex Riley been able to capitalise on his momentum the bout may have panned out differently, unfortunately for the man who hoped to extract vengeance on this night Kevin Owens was first back to his feet and slowly climbed back into the ring with a look of annoyance on his face. With Riley still trying to get up, he seemed to be no match for a rampaging Champion who propped Alex in the corner only to miss a Cannonball Splash.

Harnessing every piece of strength he had left, Alex Riley pulled himself to a vertical base and nailed an excellent Spinebuster which would be his biggest contribution to the bout. Selling the move to perfection, Kevin Owens staggered to his feet and came to rest against the ring ropes where Riley went all or nothing with a Big Splash. Crashing and burning, Riley’s Splash was dodged and in turn he hung himself up in the ropes. Now, there was no more time for messing around for Kevin Owens. Thoroughly annoyed that he was taken advantage of, Owens went on the rampage and squished his rival with three heavy Senton Splashes. Instead of pinning Riley which should have brought about the end of the clash, Owens sought further punishment by hurling Alex from the ring.

Taking the fight to the arena floor, the NXT Champion was in his element. Pulling Alex Riley to his feet, Kevin Owens rammed the returning star into the steel barricade twice before rolling Alex back into the ring. The match was as good as over. All that was left were formalities. Sliding back into the ring, Kevin Owens allowed Alex Riley to be the architect of his own downfall. Pulling himself back up, Alex Riley charged at Owens only for the NXT Champion to hoist his rival in the air and drive him home with a Powerbomb. With a smirk on his face, Kevin Owens covered Alex Riley for the victory as it became clear he was never any match for the man standing atop the NXT mountain.

After those weeks of hype, it was almost embarrassing to watch Alex Riley go down so easily. All the talk, all the rage and all those promises came to nothing in the end. They were washed away by a far superior athlete who helped ruin Alex Riley’s chances of making it big in NXT. But it wasn’t Kevin Owens’ fault. He was just doing his job. The fault here lies with WWE. They pushed Riley before he was ready and he looked terrible for ninety nine percent of this bout. It was damaging to his career, image and NXT as a whole. Now, it’s hard to see where Alex Riley goes from here. Does he disappear from television in order to hone his talents more and then have one final crack at Kevin Owens? Or does he return to the announce desk and try to forget what went down here?

Following the bout, Kevin Owens decided it would be a good idea to send a message to Finn Balor who was watching backstage and who despite not being in action during this broadcast was dressed to wrestle. Fetching Alex Riley to ringside, Owens attempted a Powerbomb onto the apron only for his number one contender to come out and halt the attack. After a stare down, Finn Balor dived from the stage and connected with a massive fist as Kevin Owens and Finn Balor battled around and inside the ring. Levelling Owens with a his double foot Dropkick, Balor went to the summit but found Owens rolling out of the way of his Coupe de Grace. Finally, the pair had come to blows one week before their NXT Championship Match and it promised something bigger and better the following week.

The Summary

Episode 269 of NXT was a cracking romp through fifty seven minutes of action, only let down by the poor performance of Alex Riley in the main event after weeks of hype. It was a dumb decision and NXT should have altered their plan in order to hype Riley as a serious threat. Because the moment Owens pinned Riley without trouble, the last few weeks were all for nothing. WWE could and should have done better. Had Alex Riley pinned Kevin Owens or even defeated him via disqualification it would have at least set up a triple threat or NXT Championship bout somewhere down the line. Now, Alex Riley has a mountain to climb and I doubt he can manage to get even half way up it.

Apart from that fact, the show was a very good piece of work. Tyler Breeze vs Kalisto, Wesley Blake vs Colin Cassidy and Sasha Banks vs Alexa Bliss were all excellent to good and a great advert for NXT on the road. The future is bright indeed.

Onwards and upwards…