THE NXT REPORT - EPISODE 267

 Okay, so we’re now into the second week of our NXT Report and already I have implemented a change to the schedule. As you will have read, the NXT Report was meant to be a fortnightly feature for this blog which replaced Review Corner. However, upon further analysis of this blog and the success of part one of this regular feature, I have decided to make it weekly. Not only does it save me rambling on about other events which a lot of people have no interest in, but it gives you something to keep up with. So from now on this will be weekly but of course will take a break for pay-per view views, but will continue as up to date as possible. In short, you will never miss an episode from now on.

Episode 267 – March 4th 2015

NXT Recap

Episode 267 of NXT opened with a recap of last week’s events with Kevin Owens’ attack on Alex Riley being the main focal point. There would be a reason for focusing heavily on this fact and that’s because it would be the main storyline running throughout the core of this week’s episode. Amongst the highlights were Finn Balor vs The Brain Kendrick, however WWE were mistaken showing this as it did Balor no favours whatsoever. As a babyface who will battle Kevin Owens for the NXT Championship on March 25th, Balor just stood by and did nothing whilst a commentator was attacked by his new nemesis. NXT should have permitted him to come to the rescue.

NXT Opening

Instead of an actual match to kick things off as most would have preferred, NXT reverted back to the booking it displayed the week after ‘NXT Takeover: Rival’. In a segment which could have been saved until later in the show, William Regal granted Alex Riley an audience who was suitably annoyed about his treatment at the hands of Kevin Owens last week. Now, we don’t get to see enough of William Regal on NXT these days and his appearances on WWE’s main roster are sparse to say the least, so whenever we do get a glimpse of the Brit it’s a treat. Not only is he good value for entertainment but as previously stated, he’s perfectly suited this role.

Many of you reading this will be able to hark back to the days a younger William Regal served in the same role on Raw. Back then, he was in better condition and could wrestle but he was always entertaining. I often think that he was born for these types of roles and as his wrestling career comes to an end it would be a great move for WWE to promote Regal to Raw as its General Manager once again when The Authority has had its day. For too long now has the brand been suffering from the same type of storyline and a fresh approach would do it the world of good. William Regal is popular with all audiences and having him serve as General Manager for a few years would bring about fresh storylines and new angles.

Of course, that leaves NXT manager-less but the problem is easily solved by employing Paul Heyman in the role. He needs something to do between Brock Lesnar’s appearances and should Triple H hand over the reigns behind the scenes as well, NXT could be taken into new waters. I know that Triple H handing over the reigns is unlikely. He’s done a sterling job as head of NXT behind the scenes, but one can’t help fantasise what Heyman could do with the brand. It wouldn’t have to be a new ECW, Paul Heyman knows what he’s doing and if he doesn’t have to handle the financial side of things then he’s free to create something special. However, thank to him being blamed for the demise of WWE’s version of ECW, I don’t see this happening.

Anyway, back to the matter in hand. Seething from his attack at the hands of Kevin Owens seven days earlier, Alex Riley canvassed William Regal for a fight with the NXT Champion at his earliest possible convenience:

AR: “Look Regal, you are the General Manager of NXT, okay? I need a match with Kevin Owens after what just happened to me okay? We’ve got to find a way to make this happen!”

WR: “Alex, you either be a competitor or you can be a commentator.”

AR: “No, no, no! You did both. I watched you do both!”

WR: “And look what happened to me. I faced Cesaro when I was a commentator and I got destroyed. In fact I’ve never competed again since.”

AR: “Look Regal, no disrespect, but I am still in the prime of my career. I have years to go in this place and I have a lot to contribute.”

WR: “You can have Kevin Owens but you have to make a choice. Do you want to be competitor or do you want to be a commentator? You cannot prepare to be a competitor with all the pressure you have on your mind that you have to be a commentator. It’s up to you.”

With that, Alex Riley stormed out of William Regal’s office to make his decision. It wasn’t a particularly great coming together and the script could have been much better, but this was all designed to begin the come back of Alex Riley as an in ring talent. It may be laughable to many and indeed I couldn’t stop laughing when Riley told William Regal that he still had a lot to contribute, yet in NXT, a land where everyone is equal and there is no pecking order, maybe Alex Riley can thrive as an in ring talent. He obviously still has the passion to perform otherwise he’d have vetoed the idea of lacing up his boots again, when he had a comfy job on commentary.

Whilst I’m not convinced an Alex Riley vs Kevin Owens feud will sell, or that Alex Riley’s second crack at stardom will end any better than the first, we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Certainly, he’ll need to up his game from last time and forget any pipe dream about making it big on the main roster because that certainly isn’t going to happen for him now. But with a character change and a strong push by those in charge and he could make waves. I guess only time will tell so watch this space.

Adam Rose vs Tyler Breeze

One thing I have to give WWE credit for is spotting when a star’s career is on a downward spiral. Instead of allowing them to fester on Superstars or Main Event which just aren’t up to scratch these days, now WWE bosses are allowing their main roster stars to drop down into NXT in an attempt make them better wrestlers and see if there’s any hope of their career being revived. It works with some and isn’t so profitable with others but at least WWE are attempting to do something in order to keep their stars on the right track. It’s a positive sign of things to come from the company.

In the last few months, we’ve seen main roster stars such as Emma, Titus O’Neil and Tyson Kidd to name but a few return to NXT in an attempt to re-kick start their careers. It wasn’t successful with Titus O’Neil simply because he didn’t possess the quality needed in the first place. With Emma, the results are still inconclusive as she’s only competed in one bout since returning, but the method worked with Tyson Kidd. Punted into NXT’s main event picture in latter stages of 2014 and early 2015, Tyson Kidd’s battle to be NXT Champion had its benefits on his main roster career. Not only was he in better condition when he returned, but Tyson Kidd also managed to capture the WWE Tag Team Championships with Cesaro at Fast Lane which was a step forward for the Canadian.

I’m not advocating the return to NXT of a mass of main roster stars because that will inevitably take away from the younger talent on display. However, it could advantageous for a few more if WWE were to portion them out right and not just bundle them in en mass. The likes of Jack Swagger, Cesaro, The Miz and Damien Sandow could greatly benefit from a stint in NXT and even make those in charge re-think their positions when they were to return to the main roster months down the line. In particular, WWE could do with dropping some of its female talent into the mix in order to get them ready for a resurgence of the divas division later in the year. Someone has to show them how it’s done and that you don’t just have to rely on a pretty face.

This week, it was Adam Rose’s turn to step back onto the NXT stage where he was once so successful and popular and it was a good decision. On WWE’s main roster, Adam Rose has been defunct. There has been no point to him as WWE haven’t taken the Brit seriously at all and treated him as a comedy character with his Exotic Express. In many ways, Adam Rose has stepped into the shoes that Santino Marella once occupied and for a wrestler who has actual potential, it simply isn’t good enough. I can’t say with any authority whether Adam Rose will benefit from another stint in NXT, but it can’t hurt his career any more than WWE already have.

As the bell rang for the opening bout of this week’s episode of NXT, neither competitor seemed too bothered about putting on a high flying, technical masterpiece to show the booking and creative committee what they were capable of and instead decided the best course of action would be to pose and waste time which could have been filled with something impressive. Laying on the top turnbuckle in an attempt to psych out his foe, Tyler Breeze oozed charisma but wasn’t too happy when Adam Rose matched his mind games by perching himself on the top turnbuckle opposite. It wasn’t a promising beginning but the audience made their own entertainment by chanting ‘Ninja Turtle’ at a member of The Exotic Express who was dressed as a hero in a half shell.

Kicking the bout off for real, Adam Rose made a lunge for Tyler Breeze but found nothing but air as the selfie obsessed character dodged an attack. Taking Adam Rose by surprise, Tyler Breeze snatched a Headlock Takedown but released the move in order to partake in more stalling. Standing in the corner and watching his foe recover, Tyler Breeze took flight with a running jump but found Rose’s grasp was too tight to wriggle out of. Caught in mid-air, Tyler Breeze was brought down hard on his opponent’s knee with an Inverted Atomic Drop. In control, Adam Rose clutched a handful of hair and rammed his oppressor face first into the turnbuckle.

With Tyler Breeze clutching his face, Adam Rose took the opportunity to fly and elevated himself to the second turnbuckle. Launching with what was meant to be a Double Axe Handle, Adam Rose was caught short when Tyler Breeze dropped to one knee and Rose landed square on the appendage crotch first. Making the eyes of every man in attendance water as Rose clutched his crown jewels, the leader of the Exotic Express soon shook off the effects of such a ruinous act and rebounded with a Chop to the chest before balancing himself on the middle rope where he warded off any Tyler Breeze attack with the treat of two feet to the face.

Throwing caution to the wind, Breeze charged his foe and ate leather as Adam Rose’s boots were planted firmly in his face. Staggered, Tyler Breeze was unable to stop Adam Rose knocking him to the canvas with three Shoulderblocks. Scrambling to make his way back to a vertical base, Tyler Breeze was caught with a heavy Slam and battered with a Corner Clothesline. Reeling from his recent attack, Tyler Breeze was savvy enough to spot an oncoming missile from Rose and as the gothic look-a-like rebounded off of the ropes, Breeze nailed him with The Beauty Shot for the victory.

In truth, the bout wasn’t much to look at and suffered from a massive amount of stalling. When the action did get going, it was laboured and neither man looked really bothered about putting on a show. It felt more like watching a wrestling match on Superstars rather than an exhibit of the future of the company. Had Adam Rose and Tyler Breeze been given ten more minutes, it would have been an excellent start to the programme and an indication of what Adam Rose can do in the ring. As it stands, maybe WWE were right to send him back down a level because I certainly saw nothing to the contrary here.

Enzo Amore, Colin Cassidy and Carmella Interview

In what would become a standard for this episode of NXT, we were taken to the backstage area where Enzo Amore, Colin Cassidy and Carmella awaited their interview. After being interrupted by Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy the previous week, where the NXT Tag Team Champions offered Carmella a place by their side, the trio responded to comments about their next move against Blake and Murphy. First up for comment was Enzo Amore:

“You’re talking about sweet boy frosted Wesley Blake? I tell you what, he got loose cheeks and every time they speak I hear bowl movements. They need to wipe the crap off of their lips!”

Next up was Colin Cassidy:

“They want to talk to Carmella? They want to address Carmella? No! You talk to us two first. Nobody talks to Carmella like that.”

Carmella then interjected:

“They made me throw up in my mouth!”

Colin Cassidy continued:

“Because they’re ugly and they’re disgusting.”

Carmella continued:

“They’re pathetic pigs and you two need to beat them.”

Colin Cassidy then finished off the interview:

“After we become the number contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championships, we’re going to beat the bacon right off of their backs.”

It was a somewhat baffling interview. Amongst the distinguishable comments which really weren’t all that important, we had to make do with Enzo Amore adding nonsensical comments into the fray as well. In short, this was a complete mess. Out of the three, Carmella looked the best and most comfortable talking on camera whilst Enzo Amore once again looked like he’d been fished out of a skip where he’d been sleeping.

However, it was Colin Cassidy’s remarks that really annoyed people in the crowd. Referring to Blake and Murphy as dirty and disgusting, Cassidy did so with a straight face whilst sitting next to a man who looked as if he hasn’t washed in six months and who was clearly stoned out of his face. There’s a double standard here. In 2014, WWE made an example of Daniel Bryan for his appearance. Yet they’re perfectly happy for a potential future star to look like he’s sleeping rough? And believe me, it’s not a part of his character.

WWE need to do something with Enzo Amore’s appearance and soon. He may have a popular catchphrase and t-shirt but that’s where the appeal ends. Neither Amore or Cassidy have yet displayed anything to make me believe they will go far in WWE or be main players on the main stage. The first thing you should want to do when you see Enzo Amore is cheer him, not chase him with a wet cloth and a bar of soap. And the fact that WWE allowed Amore to conduct this interview under the influence of narcotics is a worrying sign indeed.

Alexa Bliss Interview

Instead of following a dull and somewhat baffling interview with a stunning technical war which would have raised the spirits of everyone in the NXT Arena and watching on the WWE Network, WWE decided to go completely in the opposite direction and follow it up with yet another interview with a talent that people don’t really care about. I have to say that on a show about the future, this isn’t what is expected from WWE. I know they have to get in interviews and promos so the stars can hone their skills but having sat through the previous interview and Alex Riley sounding off against William Regal at the beginning of the show, this was just one more instance to make you sigh.

For those not familiar with Alexa Bliss, the performer has been gone from NXT for some time now, ever since she was said to have suffered a nose injury at the hands of Sasha Banks. Her absence hasn’t made the heart grow fonder and she’s been gone for so long that I actually forgot she existed. The common belief is that Alexa Bliss didn’t in fact suffer a nose injury and was sent back to development to hone her skills, because she was so bad in the ring. I can easily believe this. Alexa Bliss has never been able to hold a candle to the Women’s division in NXT and desperately needed someone to show her how to hang properly. She was embarrassing herself and her opponents. Let’s just hope that this stint in development has done her some good.

Responding to the question of where she’s been and what the future holds for her, Alexa Bliss had this to say:

“Uh, well, since my series of matches with Sasha Banks you know I suffered a nose injury. So I just needed to take some time to heal physically and mentally. But I feel like I’m a good place now. And tonight is a very important night in NXT history; Sasha Banks vs Charlotte for the NXT Women’s Championship in the main event. Whether Sasha retains or not, I’m gunning for her. It’s about time someone showed the boss who ‘s really in charge.”

It may have gotten to the point that Alexa Bliss wanted to tear Sasha Banks apart piece by piece for causing her nose injury and costing her time away from the ring, but this only took time away from the in-ring product. Had WWE wanted to get over that Alexa Bliss was back for revenge then it would have been much more effective to have Bliss attack Sasha Banks after her main event match with Charlotte. Actions speak louder than words and that would have been a statement of intent, especially with NXT’s next pay-per view event right around the corner.

Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy vs Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins

This is the first time Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy have been included in this NXT Report as they didn’t compete in the first two weeks after ‘NXT Takeover: Rival’. The seemingly mismatched pair who currently hold the NXT Tag Team Championship have convinced me that they have a bright future in WWE. Their performances over the past few weeks have been nothing short of brilliant and their series against The Lucha Dragons was mightily impressive and would have been even more so had Sin Cara and Kalisto not botched several moves during their bouts.

Both slick and technically gifted, Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy could be one the best tag teams to come out of WWE’s developmental league for quite some time. More impressive between the ropes than the likes of The Ascension, I can see a main roster feud between The Usos and Blake and Murphy going down a storm over the WWE Tag Team Championships. Hell, WWE don’t even have to wait until Blake and Murphy graduate to the big league. It would be the easiest thing in the world to bring The Usos to NXT for a few weeks to have a series of matches against the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions which would tear the house down.

As for Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy’s opponents for this match, both Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins were making their NXT debut and brought back memories of Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Hass, even down to Fulton wearing the Rick Steiner amateur wrestling headgear. I can’t imagine how the pair will fit into the programme looking like this as their image is one of wholesome men who still live with their mothers and are saving their virginity until marriage. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that at all but it just doesn’t work in WWE. It’s not what people want to see.

With the toll of the opening bell, it was the rookie duo who struck first blood in an attempt to impress Triple H watching from the gorilla position and as Buddy Murphy began with Sawyer Fulton, it was the less experienced of the warriors who came out on top. Initiating a Lock Up, Fulton struck with lightening precision and shuffled his way around the back of one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions in order to fell his opposition with a double Waistlock and Slam. Regaining his composure, Buddy Murphy underestimated his rookie foe and turned straight into a very impressive Fireman’s Carry.

Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins looked impressive in the early going, they were controlling the Tag Team Champions with ease and their more experienced opponents were graciously selling like troupers for a team who were looking to supplant them. Forcing Buddy Murphy to stay on the canvas, Sawyer Fulton applied an Armbar but soon found his efforts in vein when he was clocked with a Back Elbow. Unable to budge his larger oppressor, Murphy threw a second Back Elbow which ducked and reversed superbly into a Headlock.

On the defensive wasn’t a position where the NXT Tag Team Champions were used to being, especially with a new and upcoming team. Synched into a decent looking Headlock, Buddy Murphy climbed back to his feet and managed to back Fulton into the corner, where the inexperienced pretender to the crown just seemed to let go of the hold and allow Murphy to make the tag to Wesley Blake. Double teaming Sawyer Fulton, Blake and Murphy fired their foe into the ropes and executed a sublime Double Leapfrog before catching him on the rebound with a Double Back Elbow.

Seizing control of the bout, Wesley Blake slowed the pace of the bout by applying a Rear Chinlock but once again found the newer Fulton slippery when he rolled his way out of the hold. Enraged, Blake let his guard down and was caught with a neat Throat Thrust which opened the door to a tag to Angelo Dawkins and forced Wesley Blake to bring Buddy Murphy back into the ring. Bursting into action with an enthusiasm I haven’t seen from a new wrestler in many months, Dawkins clouted Murphy with a bone shaking Clothesline after which Buddy Murphy missed one of the his own. Ducking the Clothesline, Dawkins stung Murphy with a series of Dusty Rhodes inspired jabs but made a rookie mistake by turning his attention to Wesley Blake on the apron.

Dodging an Angelo Dawkins attack, Wesley Blake provided enough of a distraction for Buddy Murphy to connect with a Calf Kick. Tagging Wesley Blake back into the encounter, the clock struck midnight on Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins’ Cinderella story when the NXT Tag Team Champions sealed a victory as Buddy Murphy dropped Dawkins with a nice Brainbuster and Wesley Blake scaled the top rope, launching himself halfway across the ring with an excellent Frog Splash for the count of three.

Once again, the bout wasn’t a stunning example of what NXT is capable of but was good enough to exhibit how much better NXT’s tag team division is than WWE’s main roster. Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins look like decent additions to the ranks, but need an overhaul before anyone in NXT can take a shine to them. Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy are a shining example of what can be attained in a developmental territory with hard work and investment. These two are going far.

Bayley and Emma Confrontation

Taking yet another break from the action, even though the fans had made it clear that more wrestling was required, we were taken to the locker room where Bayley was stood with Charlotte ahead of her NXT Women’s Championship Match against Sasha Banks in the main event of the show. Talking her friend up, Bayley had this to say to Charlotte:

“You look great. You got your side pony and your smile. I know we haven’t really been best of friends lately, but I want to wish you good luck in your match with Sasha tonight.”

Bayley’s well wishes however, didn’t seem to sit well with the former Champion who seemed slightly taken aback by her friend’s comments:

“Sasha is the one who is going to need the luck.”

Barging out on Bayley, seeds of some type of heel turn for Charlotte were sewn. But Bayley wouldn’t be alone for long when her former ally, Emma, made her presence known. After a fist bump, Bayley thought she was being nice to the returning Emma:

“What’s up? You want to go use the bubble machine, like old times?”

After Emma refused her offer, Bayley once again tried to extend the olive branch to her friend:

“Me neither, I was just talking to Charlotte. She has a main event match with Sasha. You want to come and sit with me? We can watch together?”

Instead of just turning down Bayley’s proposal, Emma cut a scathing and bitchy promo on her former friend. The tone she used signalled something bigger to come and was obviously meant to set up a future rivalry between the former friends:

“You want to watch that match? The one that you should have been in but weren’t because you lost at Takeover? Walking around, giving everyone high tens and throwing out headbands and hugging people. It’s just like you. It’s cool though, it’s cool, it’s like I mean look at me. I did the same thing when I was on Raw. Being really nice and look where that got me. Back here at NXT. Just something to think about!”

Bayley vs Emma which will be presented in the next few weeks should be a good feud to sit through. However, I have to say that Bayley’s treatment over the last few weeks has been unusually shoddy for NXT and instead of building her steadily to something enormous which I’m convinced she’ll thrive at, WWE have used her to facilitate the push of others. Bayley may not be the best female wrestler yet but she’s certainly better than how WWE are using her at the moment. Bayley needs to be winning matches, not losing to anyone and everyone WWE believes needs a victory.

Baron Corbin vs Tony Briggs

For a second bout in a row, we were given an established NXT star against a debut wrestler who was taking his baby steps on the brand. As I’ve previously explained, Baron Corbin has the looks and the build to go far in WWE but Tony Briggs has no chance whatsoever. You may think that it is too early to form a judgment, but there are some wrestlers you just look at and know. Tony Briggs, who was dressed like a member of the Spirit Squad for this bout, is just too ordinary and chunky to make it in WWE and even in NXT. He has no charisma and no disenable talent. Though I will say that this bout was so short that it was hard to judge his skill level; however like I said, sometimes you can just tell.

I think it’s fair to say that no one in the NXT Arena was expecting a long and intricate match, that isn’t Baron Corbin’s style. In this respect he’s like Ryback and Goldberg before him. Short matches in which he decimates opponents without them putting up any fight at all. And that is how this match went as well. Unfortunately, like Ryback and Goldberg before him this method of booking won’t do Baron Corbin any favours at all. For him to flourish on WWE’s main roster, because that is where he is heading, the company need to book him in longer bouts. Otherwise it’s going to be history repeating itself when he gets to the main stage and burns out in minutes because he’s unable to compete in marathon bouts which are the staple of pay-per view.

Beginning what would be a blink and you miss it encounter, Baron Corbin participated in a traditional Lock Up with Tony Briggs only to overpower the inferior warrior by shoving him into the ropes. Now, this is where WWE made a mistake. They took the focus off of the action in order to concentrate on another feud happening elsewhere. Cutting to the announce table, an unaware Alex Riley had been joined by Kevin Owens who had obviously heard what the commentator had to say about him at the beginning of the programme. Now, this is where I have a problem. Alex Riley acted as if he couldn’t see Kevin Owen, thus giving us the big reveal at the end of the bout. But the commentators watch the same feed we do at home and we were watching them. How could WWE expect us not to believe that Alex Riley didn’t see the footage of what was waiting behind him?

Back to the fleeting action and Baron Corbin and Tony Briggs tangled with another Lock Up which came to a close when Corbin repeated the action of throwing Briggs into the ropes. This time though, he’d catch Briggs on the rebound and belted him with the End of Days for the victory. It was a pointless match only booked to heighten the rivalry between Alex Riley and Kevin Owens who would nearly come to blows when the final bell rang. In a brilliantly hilarious silent sequence, Alex Riley became aware of the NXT Champion when Owens reached across the commentator and took his water. Taking a sip from the bottle, Kevin Owens then poured the contents over Riley’s head. Standing face to face with Owens, Riley was held back by Jason Albert as Kevin Owens walked away unbothered.

Kevin Owens is going to be a massive hit in WWE, his execution is flawless and his timing is perfect. This man is the future of WWE. You can bank on that.

Sami Zayn Addresses the NXT Universe

Last week, a match plate was shown advertising Sami Zayn’s first appearance in NXT since his mauling at the hands of Kevin Owens. Now, like every other fan watching NXT this week I expected Sami Zayn to be in the arena live and address the NXT Universe face to face. After all, he managed to make the tour of Dubai as part of WWE’s main roster because it’s meant to be his home town. It was reasonable to expect that if he could make that tour, then he could make it to the NXT Arena to explain his status following ‘NXT Takeover: Rival’.

Once again, what WWE promises isn’t always what they deliver and instead of Sami Zayn live in the arena, telling us how he was going to get his own back on Kevin Owens and calling out the NXT Champion thus teasing a triple threat match at the next pay-per view, we were instead shown video footage of Sami Zayne on the streets of Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he cut a promo into a handheld camera which was meant to make up for the lack of a personal appearance. So what inspiring insights would Sami Zayn have to impart on us? This is what the former NXT Champion had to say:

“Hey guys, this is Sami Zayn. And as you can tell I’m not in Abu Dhabi anymore. I’m back home in Montreal, Canada. The tour went great, Abu Dhabi was great and in my very short time away from NXT in these past few weeks I can’t help but notice and fell the landscape of NXT is changing dramatically and in a hurry. New faces like Solomon Crowe and returning guys like Rhyno and The Brian Kendrick, a new number one contender on Finn Balor, you know new Champion Sasha Banks and of course at the top of the mountain is Kevin Owens. I’m sorry I’m not there in person, face to face to tell you guys this but today is March 1st 2015 and today marks my 13 year anniversary in this industry. For the first time in 13 years, I feel like I’m not mentally prepared to be there right now and that’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m walking the streets of Montreal at two in the morning. I came home to get some perspective because this is where it all started for me. There’s the story of Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens starting here a dozen years ago. So I haven’t watched footage back from ‘NXT Takeover: Rival’ just yet, the conclusion of my match with Kevin Owens, but I plan on it. And when I do maybe then I can put into words what I plan on doing to Kevin Owens when I come back.”

And that was it. Three weeks wait for that and he wasn’t even in the arena to tell us. It really looked like Sami Zayn had tucked his tail between his legs and headed home. He couldn’t even be bothered to tell us in person. You see, this is why a lot of WWE stars do not get over in the company. Because of booking like this. It was Sami Zayn’s anniversary, he should have been there and by not turning up he short changed everyone who came to see him that night. In all honesty, it appeared as if Sami Zayne was more bothered about his main roster prospects rather than the people in NXT that made him.

Don’t get me wrong, Sami Zayn is ready for the main roster. His skills are honed and perfected but if this is the beginning of the end for him then instead of having him spout any old rubbish and listing Champions who have actually bothered to turn up, have him ponder his future in NXT. Have his story be one of self doubt until he either returns to NXT or announces that he’s leaving to try his luck on the main roster. Many doubt he’ll make it there but I’m confident fans will treat him the same as they have done Daniel Bryan. You never know, Sami Zayne could be WWE World Heavyweight Champion in a few years time.

As for the actual interview, it was lazy. Sami Zayn sounded uninterested and grabbing at straws for something to say. If WWE or even Sami Zayn couldn’t find the words to keep us hooked then why have him say anything at all? Why not write him a storyline where he disappears from WWE altogether for a while, don’t show us the footage of his tour with the main roster and make us believe that after the beating he suffered he’s gone into hibernation. After three months of only competing on WWE main roster house shows, Sami Zayn could then return to NXT to get his revenge on Kevin Owen. After losing the feud ending bout, he could leave the company step up to WWE’s main roster. This stuff isn’t rocket science so why do WWE get it wrong on so many occasions?

Worse, it was announced last week that Sami Zayn would address the NXT Universe and this footage was apparently recorded on March 1st. Meaning that it appeared as if Sami Zayn saw the announcement and couldn’t be bothered to make the trip in advance. The entire thing looked staged and that isn’t what NXT is about.

Alex Riley’s Choice

Back in William Regal’s office and the NXT General Manager was listening to a wrestler I believe to be CJ Parker, sound off about getting attacked from behind. Looking at his nails as if he didn’t have a care in the world, William Regal played his part to perfection here, seeming as if this was one complaint too many. This is what I mean when I say he’s suited to this role rather that continuously lace up his boots at his age and condition. His timing is just perfect as are the looks he gives when he clearly couldn’t give a damn about what someone is saying. Fortunately for William Regal, a more pressing matter would bring itself to his attention.

Barging through William Regal’s door, Alex Riley had finally made his decision about whether he wanted to return to the ring or not. Enraged about what had just occurred with Kevin Owens following the Baron Corbin vs Tony Briggs bout, Alex Riley informed William Regal of his decision:

AR: “Regal! Did you not see what happened?!”

WR: “No I didn’t. He was talking to me. What?”

AR: “Kevin Owens is running roughshod over this place. That’s it. I quit being a commentator. I want Kevin Owens in the ring, right here, right now, make it happen.”

WR: “I respect your decision, but you will have to sign a talent contract and I will not give you Kevin Owens until I…do you understand me…I, think you are ready.”

At this point in time, Alex Riley turned his attention to CJ Parker who was laughing at Alex Riley behind William Regal’s back.

AR: “What are you laughing at?”

CJ: “Well, you and Kevin Owens. Give me a break, Riley, come on. The only person to ever do anything to Kevin Owens is me. Look at the star on his nose. Who was that from? It was from me!”

WR: “Alex, you will get Kevin Owens when I think you are ready.”

AR: “That’s fine, because next week I’m starting with you and I’m kicking your ass.”

Alex riley was of course referring to CJ Parker and suddenly next week’s main event is settled. I’m not sad to see Alex Riley leave his commentary job and return to the ring because he was horrible to listen to. As I’ve already stated, free of the shackles that were placed on him by The Miz and in a position other than jobber for stars on Superstars, Alex Riley could ignite his career with this feud against Kevin Owens but WWE have to treat his comeback with respect and seriousness. If Alex Riley was to lose matches here and there until he reached Kevin Owens then it would be a waste of time and talent.

If WWE want us to take Alex Riley seriously ever again then the first thing the company must do is make us forget about his previous treatment. This is easily done with promos on his training to get back in shape for his career and excellent technical matches to follow against some of NXT’s best. I for one would like to see Alex Riley mix it up in NXT’s main event matches with the likes of Finn Balor, Hideao Itami, Tyler Breeze and Sami Zayn before he gets his hands on Kevin Owens. Whether you know it or not, Alex Riley is more than capable of becoming a star in NXT though his re-introduction back into the roster means that the outcome of Kevin Owens vs Finn Balor is already decided. No one will want to see Alex Riley battle Kevin Owens if it’s not for the NXT Championship.

Solomon Crowe vs Bull Dempsey

I wasn’t totally impressed by Solomon Crowe’s debut two weeks ago. You may have picked that up by my words on the subject. I didn’t have a problem with Crowe per se but the way WWE handled his first steps onto the brand. After weeks and weeks of hype and vignettes which promised much, the outcome actually delivered very little and was laughable in its execution. So what was needed now would be a stunning debut bout against one of NXT’s biggest wrestlers to really show what Solomon Crowe was capable of. I can say with some certainty, that after Bull Dempsey’s recent showings in the ring, hopes weren’t very high.

It may be very early on in his career, but I just can’t warm to Solomon Crowe. His personality is erratic and not at all original; his behaviour is a cross between Raven and little Spike Dudley and strangely, he looks a lot like TNA wrestler Eric Young. He’s yet to find a niche in which he slots into and I can see him struggling in weeks and months to come. Certainly, he’s not NXT Champion material and brings to mind a mid-card ECW wrestler from the late 1990’s. Times have moved on, stop trying to give us someone that would have fitted in twenty years ago.

Bull Dempsey has been bitterly disappointing over the last few weeks. His bout with Baron Corbin at ‘NXT Takeover: Rival’ was weak and though billed as a No Disqualification brawl featured little to no hardcore brawling. It needed to be longer and filled with more action to display Dempsey’s anger and talent. His bout against Hideao Itami last week was passable thanks to the Japanese star’s talents and so this week it was up to Bull to pull something out of the rookie, to show that he could be relied upon to put on a show when it matters. For those who haven’t seen Bull Dempsey yet, he looks a lot like Rusev and is rotund rather than formed but that hasn’t stopped WWE from placing their hopes on him for future success.

Crossing their fingers, the NXT bigwigs sat back and watched with massive amounts of expectation as Bull Dempsey took the newbie for a ride. With the opening bell came the premier sequence and Bull Dempsey immediately assumed control with hard kicks to the gut, wasting no time. It was nice to see a match which didn’t begin with a Lock Up for one, but trust me when I say this bout wouldn’t be able to uphold the optimism and would soon take a turn for the worst. Losing control of the bout in the early going, Solomon Crowe possessed enough knowledge to know that he needed to battle back quickly if he was going to find a footing in this bout, and found the mark with hard right hands to the dome which currently sits around Bull Dempsey’s waist.

Shaking off Solomon Crowe’s weak punched, Bull Dempsey schooled the rookie in how to throw a punch when he battered him with merciless Forearms to the back and stuck his boot in Crowe’s face one NXT’s newest star was on the canvas. With his dominance giving him a  metaphorical erection, Bull Dempsey scooped his opponent from the canvas and pushed him into the ropes in a messy sequence which looked as if both men had just got involved in a fight outside a bar. Catching Crowe’s foot as he rebounded from the ropes, Dempsey spun Solomon but found his foe’s elbow planted firmly in his face.

With Bull Dempsey temporarily staggered, Solomon Crowe drove in two headbutts which didn’t have the desired effect and found himself on the canvas once again when Dempsey responded with a massive headbutt of his own. Mounting Crowe on the canvas, Dempsey drove in several fists before pinning Crowe to the mat with a forearm in the face which looked slightly odd when it went on and on. If any two wrestlers ever looked as if they were having a nice hug halfway through a match, this was it. Shouting at Solomon Crowe that this was his house, Dempsey yanked his opponent from the canvas by his hair but got a hard punch for his trouble.

Possessing a highly optimistic nature, Solomon Crowe attempted to lift Bull Dempsey from a vertical base but found the weight too much to cope with. Toppling Crowe with his frame, Dempsey came crashing down on the waiting body of NXT’s newest recruit for a lacklustre near fall. Settling behind Crowe, Bull Dempsey wailed away on the broken conscript with some unforgiving Crossface punches before returning to the unexciting kicks. Surely this droning affair couldn’t get any worse. Hence, it did. Just when the bout needed a spark to bring it to life, Bull Dempsey displayed no originality by applying a Rear Chinlock as audible groans could be heard from the audience. Thankfully the move wouldn’t last long, as Solomon Crowe backed Dempsey into the corner and rolled free from what seemed to be a slackly applied hold.

Attempting to build some momentum, Solomon Crowe charged into the ropes but found nothing but Bull on the rebound when Dempsey smashed him hard with a Standing Splash. Steadily climbing to the top rope, Bull Dempsey looked to mercifully end this bore with a Flying Headbutt only to find canvas upon landing when Crowe rolled out of the way. Finally, the bout had some intrigue. Heaving his frame from the canvas, Bull Dempsey took refuge in the corner where Crowe blasted him with a weedy Running Knee which C.M Punk would have laughed out of the building before putting Dempsey on the canvas with a pathetic Running Elbow.

Fortunately, that would be all the doctor ordered as Solomon Crowe hit his Slingshot Splash from the ropes which came very close to missing for the victory. This as the first real repugnant NXT match I’ve seen in many months. There was no flow, no interest and both men appeared to be working to a very strict routine and showed it. If this is meant to make us warm to Crowe then it fell wide of the mark, on this evidence I’ll give him six months in NXT tops. As for Bull Dempsey, another disappointing bout only further adds to diminish his star. WWE need to do something with him quickly before we lose all hope on someone WWE are banking on being their next big monster. Hell, if Rusev can drag a good match out of John Cena then its not a stretch of the imagination to expect Bull Dempsey to be able to carry a newcomer who wants to impress, to something halfway decent.

The Main Event

NXT Women’s Championship Match

(c) Sasha Banks vs Charlotte

And finally after several lacklustre matches and too much talking for a show which is meant to be about the future, we arrived at what was a hotly anticipated main event match and one which would signal a historic moment for the brand. Triple H has put a lot of faith in NXT’s women’s division over the last few months to the point where he’s now lobbying to get WWE’s divas more time on television. This however, was the ultimate leap of faith by Triple H. NXT’s women had proven themselves lower down the card but now they had to reward the faith shown in them by executing a brilliant main event. And you better believe that Vince McMahon and those yes men he employs were watching this, just waiting for Triple H to fail so they could veto his idea of giving the talented amongst WWE’s divas more time to shine.

I am warming to Sasha Banks. Her character isn’t completely original but she’s stunning and her wrestling skills are getting better and better by the week. She still has a lot to learn between the ropes and makes the odd mistake, but there is something immediately likable about the NXT Women’s Champion who should have a long and successful reign if WWE want her to move further up the ladder. I’m not sure how she’d survive on WWE’s main roster thanks the current state of WWE’s diva’s division, but if WWE can keep her in NXT for another year it would give them a chance to sort out their problems higher up. And the same goes for Charlotte. The daughter of Ric Flair is one of the best female wrestlers to pass through NXT since Paige and if WWE’s divas division can begin to display some really gripping matches then both women will find a good home on Raw and Smackdown.

With the crowd split between both women, the main event began as Charlotte looked for revenge for losing the title to Sasha Banks at ‘NXT Takeover: Rival’. As the fifteen minute time limit began to count down, it was Ric Flair’s baby girl who began the bout on the offensive by attempting several grab attempts which Sasha Banks dodged. Playing the fearful Champion perfectly, Banks even took refuge behind the referee before the match began for real when the NXT Women’s Champion went for a kick only to find her leg caught by Charlotte, who spun the Champion and leathered her pretty face with an elbow. Staggering into the corner from such a blow, Sasha Banks found herself in a world of trouble when her challenger ripped a page from her father’s playbook and went to work on the woman who took her gold with Chops to the chest.

It was an impressive beginning to a match with Triple H was relying on working out for the best. If this failed, then how could Vince McMahon or any of his creative take any suggestion Triple H made seriously again? It was a big gamble, but one which was about to pay off. Taking hold of her rival, Charlotte shot Banks into the ropes only for Sasha to hold onto the chord which facilitated her escape from harm. Sliding to the arena floor, the flurry of moves which Banks had been unable stave off got the better of her and she decided to live to fight another day. Grabbing her NXT Women’s Championship, Sasha Banks headed for the locker room and told the referee to count her out. Unwilling to allow the title she lost three weeks prior to slip from her grasp again, Charlotte ignored the referee’s advice and went to ringside after the Champion.

Bringing Sasha Banks back into the action, Charlotte physically removed her from the aisle and scooped her into a Bearhug before driving her back first into the apron. Rolling Sasha Banks back into the ring, Charlotte remained on the ring apron and drove Banks’ head into the top turnbuckle. As Sasha held her face in pain, Charlotte dived through the ropes and connected with a beautiful Diving Roll Up for a one count. Annoyed that her endeavours hadn’t worked, Charlotte went to work on Banks’ pretty face with heavy knees before going into her father’s playbook and applying a Figure Four Leg Lock. Adding her own personal touch with a lovely bridge, Charlotte could feel the Women’s Championship coming back home but was dismayed when Banks found the resolve to grab the ropes and break the move. Rolling to ringside to recover, this was the signal for WWE to take a break.

After coming back from the announcement that Kevin Owens would defend his NXT Championship against Finn Balor at NXT’s next pay-per view event on March 25th, it was Sasha Banks who was in control with a Snapmare. With a stunned Charlotte seated, Banks tore into the ropes and came back with a Slap of all things which looked terrible. Grabbing Charlotte by the hair, Sasha Banks pulled her opponent to a vertical base but found her Irish Whip reversed but managed to counter a Tilt-a-Whirl Suplex into a stunning Crossface for what was an ultra tense submission attempt. Pulling back on the hold, Sasha Banks’ efforts looked better than John Cena’s and the leader of the Cenation should pay attention to how these things are really done. With Charlotte almost bent doubled in the move, the NXT arena came alive as fans sensed that a submission may be imminent.

Charlotte’s predicament looked really painful. Sasha Banks had her bent backwards almost double but Flair managed to live up to her family’s reputation by countering the Crossface into a pinfall attempt which only brought her a count of one. The action didn’t stop there as Sasha Banks managed to reverse the pinfall into a Crucifix pin attempt which also got her nowhere. The action was coming thick and fast now and you could almost see the grin on Triple H’s face from where the hard camera was located. Applying another Crossface, Sasha Banks’ hopeful submission turned into a nightmare when Charlotte found the energy to climb to her feet with Banks sprawled across her shoulders. Standing tall, Charlotte couldn’t stop Banks from wriggling into a piggy back position, but halted any further attempt at harm by nailing a fine Sit-down Jawbuster.

Fans in the NXT Arena were loving the action on display but you couldn’t help get the impression that somewhere deep in Titan Towers, Vince McMahon was seething that someone in his own family knew more than him for once. As Sasha banks nursed her jaw and counted to make sure she had all her teeth left, Charlotte began to scale the turnbuckles and took flight with a Moonsault but landed on her feet when Banks rolled out of dodge. Attempting a Standing Senton, Charlotte landed square on Banks’ raised knees thus forcing the tide of the bout to turn again in a brilliant sequence. Desperate to hold onto her title, Banks drove in the boots to Charlotte and choked her in the corner with a boot to the throat.

After reining down punches on her challenger, Sasha Banks balanced Charlotte on the middle turnbuckle and drove her knees into the sternum. This was a woman on a mission and she looked so good doing it. Two weeks ago, Sasha Banks stepped into the ring against Blue Pants in a short, useless bout which made her look incompetent. Against a far superior foe, Sasha Banks rose to the challenge and looked like a Champion. This was exactly what she needed. Retrieving Charlotte from the canvas, Banks slipped from the ring and pulled her number one contender underneath the turnbuckles by her arms and legs, stretching her across the ringpost in a fine looking effort.

Rolling Charlotte back into the middle of the ring, Sasha Banks managed to attain a count of two. Delving into a knowledge that few knew she had, ‘The Boss’ smashed Charlotte with a Backstabber and hooked in a Cross Arm Surfboard Coke which looked amazing. Even more so thanks to the torque Banks got on Charlotte. Once again, Sasha had a move applied properly and looked more professional doing so than some of WWE’s main roster talent.  Pulling back on the move, fans were hooked into the gripping action and most managed to miss the obvious spot calling from Banks to Charlotte which she must work on in future. Thanks to the quality of the bout, I’m willing to overlook it on this occasion. Breaking the hold with some degree of difficulty, Charlotte snatched a Roll Up for a count of one.

Unable to gather her bearings in time, Charlotte walked into a Dropkick which handed Sasha a good near fall before the NXT Women’s Champion cracked the Falir family member with her Bank Statement finisher which looked out of this world thanks to a combination of her professionalism and Charlotte’s wonderful selling. It looks like the next generation of Flair picked up one or two things from her daddy. Believing she had the match won, Sasha Banks let her guard down and allowed Charlotte to reverse the hold into another pinfall attempt which Banks countered back into the Crossface section of the Bank Statement. I’ve run out of adjectives to describe just how good this looked. After a prolonged and gripping struggle to escape Sasha’s clutches, Charlotte forced the Champion to break the hold by grabbing the ropes for dear life.

Both weary and beaten, it was time for the pair to begin the final journey home. The Champion and challenger had put on an exceptional show thus far; anything more at this point would be a bonus. Charging her challenger, Sasha Banks could do nothing to stop Charlotte stepping aside and could only helplessly watch as she sailed through the middle rope and hit the arena floor hard. Pulling herself back into the ring, Sasha Banks and Charlotte initiated the final sequence of the bout by trading hard right hands. Ducking a Clothesline, Charlotte cracked a Standing Neckbreaker which didn’t fell Banks but the resultant Spear which nearly took the Champion out of her boots, did. The near fall which followed was transcendent.

Refusing to lay off the pressure, Charlotte used what had to be the last of her raw power to hoist Sasha Banks into a Suplex attempt only for the NXT Champion to counter and land on her feet. Pushing Charlotte into the ropes, Sasha Banks and her challenger botched what should have been a Rolling Cradle pinfall when Charlotte failed to tuck her head and Banks had to think on her feet. Salvaging the moment, Sasha planted Charlotte with what resembled a Springboard Styles Clash for another inspiring near fall. It wasn’t perfect and the mistake was obvious, but Sasha Banks covered well and displayed a knowledge for the business well beyond her years. More than any moment in this match of any others, this is the moment people will look upon in years to come when they search for the moment Sasha Banks came of age as a wrestler. She should be lauded for turning an awkward moment into a respectable one.

Wanting to defeat her foe with all the style that she’d become known for, Sasha Banks attempted a Figure Four Leg lock of her own. Spotting the move coming a mile away, Charlotte kicked Banks into the ropes only for the Champion to try a stiff Back Elbow which the challenger reversed. Knocking Banks to the canvas, Charlotte decided to dish out some revenge and pulled the NXT Women’s Champion underneath the bottom turnbuckle where she applied a Figure Four Leg Lock around the ringpost, to a massive ovation and chants of ‘This is Wrestling’.  Back inside the ring, Charlotte made her final mistake by heading to the top rope for Natural Selection where she was pulled from her perch by Banks, who hooked Charlotte’s legs and pinned her shoulders to the mat with her own feet on the ropers for the victory.

It mattered not that Sasha Banks had cheated to win the bout, because the match itself was so uplifting and exciting that everyone overlooked the outcome. Both women put on a hell of a show and I could imagine Triple H dancing in jubilation when the referee counted to three. His biggest gamble yet had paid off and NXT fans could see the advantage in getting emotionally involved in a female bout and feud. It was a brilliant ending to an average show. Now all that’s left is for Triple H to convince Vince McMahon to do this on WWE’s main roster, if he can then maybe we’ll finally see an upturn in divas action with NXT’s current crop of talent leading the way.

The Summary

There’s a pattern emerging to NXT’s weekly television show. One week it’s average or below and the next it’s a great product to watch. This has been a regular occurrence for three weeks now and I hope it stops. Like two weeks ago, Episode 267 was mediocre in its approach and saved solely by its excellent main event. Once again, there was too much talking and it felt like an old 1990’s episode of Superstars where known wrestlers would battle enhancement talent in short and useless matches.

NXT needs to find a happy medium with its output before fans start seeing it as just another extension of WWE’s product. It’s a brand all on its own now and in the weeks to come I would like the see the product run on one exciting level instead of dipping in and out on alternate weeks. If Triple H can steady this ship then the sky really is the limit for NXT.

Onwards and upwards.