10/21 WWE NXT: James Storm … Samoa Joe … Rhyno on a WWE show?


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WWE NXT Results
October 21, 2015
Taped at Full Sail University
Report by Justin James, PWTorch contributor

[Q1] It occurred to me that we still haven’t heard from Sasha Banks since her defeat at “Takeover: Respect.” In other news, WWE spoiled that Tyler Breeze is debuting on Smackdown this week.

The pre-credits video is on the #1 Contender Battle Royal last week. Included was Baron Corbin eliminating his partner, Rhyno, and Apollo Crews becoming the #1 contender to Finn Balor’s NXT Championship. On replay, Corbin still looks dumb for turning his back on Crews multiple times.

Asuka kicks off NXT to a good reaction. How does that mask stay on her face? She is connecting very well with the crowd. She’s facing Billie Kay, who has a new presentation. She looks like she could be Emma’s sister with maroon and black. Inset promo has Billie Kay putting over Asuka and then herself.

1 – ASUKA vs. BILLIE KAY

Asuka with a handshake offer, and Billie Kay accepts, then lands a knee to the middle and a big boot for a one count. So much for the respect. Kay with a physical style. Delayed vertical suplex for quite some time gets two for Kay. Snapmare, but Asuka kicks Kay in the head, then rallies. Strong kicks, but Kay catches a leg and hits a forearm. Asuka grins. Sunning armbar and Kay is in trouble. Kay rolls out. German Suplex from Asuka, running knee. Asuka is now firmly in control. Wristlock into the Asuka Lock for a submission victory.

WINNER: Asuka in 3:30. Good match to show off Asuka’s moveset. I liked the physical style of the match from both wrestlers.

Video package on Baron Corbin. Repeat of content we have already seen. Corbin vs. Rhyno is the main event. Up next is Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady against Dash and Dawson.

Backstage selfie cam from Tyler Breeze. He mock apologizes for ruining Samoa Joe’s #1 contender shot. He invites Joe to a match. He’ll be happy to “slice off a couple pieces of bacon” from Joe.

[ J.J.’s Reax: I typically don’t like fat jokes in wrestling, but it is appropriate for Breeze’s character. ]

Enzo Amore, Colin Cassady, and Carmella hit the ramp. Amore tells us what you can’t teach. Some Halloween-based promos. Poor Dasha Fuentas can’t keep a straight face.

[Q2] 2 – ENZO AMORE & COLIN CASSADY (w/Carmella) vs. DASH & DAWSON (DASH WILDER & SCOTT DAWSON)

Amore and Dawson to start. Dawson manhandles Amore. Stiff shot to the head and Dawson sells a hand injury. Chop block, followed by a legscrew. They work Amore’s leg with precision and power. Amore barely gets to the ropes to break a hold, but Dawson reapplies it after the break. Amore tries to fight out, but Dawson keeps him down. Cassady has had enough and intervenes in the match, so Dawson clears Cassady out of the ring. Amore shocks Dawson with a small package for the win.

WINNERS: Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady in 2:26. Weird, abrupt end to what was a good match. Why did Amore and Cassady need to cheat to win? Dash and Dawson has become a solid team.

Post-match, Dawson and Wilder take out their frustrations on Amore, then beat down Cassady when he tries to make the save. Isn’t this a babyface move, to exact revenge after a dirty loss?

Video package on Rhyno. It’s the one we’ve seen before.

Eva Marie is still on vacation in Paris. She gives herself as a present to us. A little more confidence in her promo this time.

Danny Burch gets what may be his first on-screen entrance ever. He’s facing former TNA wrestler James Storm. The crowd is so shocked. The announcers immediately put Storm over. They say he’s spent the last 15 years “on the independent circuit.” Well, that’s a bit of a dismissal for TNA.

3 – JAMES STORM vs. DANNY BURCH

“You belong here!” from the crowd, but Burch gets the offense. Saxton ironically groups Storm with Rhyno and Samoa Joe as a big signing. Burch with a cover barely gets a one count. Storm fights off Burch. Enziguri from the apron sets up a jumping neckbreaker. Eight Second Ride ends it.

WINNER: James Storm in 1:50. Quick squash to introduce Storm to the audience. The sheer amount of talent in NXT right now is amazing.

Apollo Crews will have his championship match in two weeks.

Video package on Apollo Crews. He fears failure more than anything else. He can’t believe that he is here. Details of his family background with his parents from Nigeria, growing up around the U.S., then time in Kenya and Uganda. His parents’s divorce was tough on him. He got into wrestling from watching it with his father and he loved Ultimate Warrior.

[Q3] Crews talks about his mother’s financial struggles, and he tears up thinking about his mother and how hard she worked. Clips of him working his through the indies. He worked hard to rise to the top and now he is here.

[ J.J.’s Reax: Another solid presentation on an NXT wrestler. Crews came off as extremely likable preparing for a face-vs-face championship match. The did this for Finn Balor and it was very effective. ]

Nia Jax vignette. Clips from her debut last week. She is advertised for next week.

Part two of “who is Apollo Crews?” will air next week.

Alexa Bliss comes out to big heat with Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy. She has a match against Peyton Royce. It is a fun change of pace to see the men accompanying a woman to the ring.

4 – PEYTON ROYCE vs. ALEXA BLISS (w/Buddy Murphy and Wesley Blake)

They trade control on the mat. Royce with a pair of early covers, then Bliss steps on Royce to humiliate her. Royce blocks an arm drag, then Bliss blocks the counterstrike and takes Royce down. Bliss starts to work an arm. Royce finally breaks free and uses her long legs to fend off the shorter Bliss. Back elbow from the corner cuts of Royce’s attack. Bliss Flip sets up the Sparkle Splash for the win.

WINNER: Alexa Bliss in 3:40. Okay match, as Bliss has improved in the ring. I think she needs to speed up the set-up for the Sparkle Splash a bit.

Post-match, Bliss fake congratulates Bayley on her victory, and becoming a role model. Bliss says she is what everyone strives to be, and was made to be NXT Women’s Champion.

“Tale of the Tape” – Baron Corbin vs. Rhyno. Rhyno is 10 inches shorter and 20 lbs. heaver.

Tyler Breeze vs. Samoa Joe is announced for last week.

Laura Palmer-esque shrieks greet Baron Corbin.

5 – RHYNO vs. BARON CORBIN

[Q4] A bit of pacing and then the lock-up sends Corbin into the corner. The ref break allows Corbin to hit a cheap shot. Rhyno quickly turns it around. Corbin heads outside, but Rhyno follows up. Back in the ring, Rhyno continues the offense. Corbin runs outside the ring again. Corbin suckers Ryhno in, but his advantage doesn’t last long. Graves: “I don’t think anyone was expecting a technical masterpiece out here.” No, we weren’t. Corbin sends Rhyno into the steps. Rhyno beats the count going to break.

[ Break ]

Corbin is slowly picking Rhyno apart, and mock asking for cheers from the crowd. Rhyno breaks free, but runs right into a spinning side slam. Rhyno’s head is through the ropes, so Corbin slides outside and tries to hit Rhyno, but Rhyno dodges, slips out, and sends Corbin into the ropes. Rhyno on the attack again in the ring. Spinebuster picks up two for Rhyno.

Rhyno sets up the Gore, but runs into a boot, turns around and hits the Gore, but Corbin kicks out at the last second. The crowd demands another Gore, and Rhyno sets it up, but he gets caught with End of Days.

WINNER: Baron Corbin in 10:20. Rhyno has done a nice job at pulling some decent big man vs. big man matches out of Corbin. While it’s not a match I look forward to, it is not one I cringe at either.

Samoa Joe with a backstage promo for Tyler Breeze. He calls Breeze a desperate man. He points out that Breeze missed his shot at the title again, and threw a temper tantrum. And now Breeze’s desperation made him call out Joe, and he will pay the price. Joe wants Breeze to take the perfect selfie, because after next week, Breeze will never look the same again.

Final Reax: It is so surreal to have former TNA stars Rhyno, Samoa Joe, and James Storm all on the same episode of NXT, and the Dudley Boys on the main roster. Maybe there is hope of seeing A.J. Styles in WWE after all? Relatively weak episode just continuing storylines and setting up the next round of championship matches. Very odd to see so little follow-up on Finn Balor’s health or Sasha Banks’s state of mind.

1 Comment on 10/21 WWE NXT: James Storm … Samoa Joe … Rhyno on a WWE show?

  1. When Pro Wrestling is all about the lifestyle, and the hard work, and ‘leaving it all in the ring’, as a video package later in the episode told us, who the f- thinks Eva Marie showing up, getting boo’d out of the building for two craptastic matches, then going away for ‘me time’ in any way puts her over?

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