SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The following report was originally published five years ago on PWTorch.com…
WWE NXT TV Report
September 4, 2013
Taped at Full Sail University
By Justin James, PWTorch contributor
[Q1] No pre-credit video, and Bayley is immediately out for a match, partnering against the impressive Charlotte. Despite debuting against Bayley, they are all smiles to each other. During her entrance, Charlotte does a somersault and on the roll through transitions into a headstand then stands up, a very impressive and casual display of strength and agility. They are facing Alicia Fox and Aksana, who hasn’t been seen in the ring in quite some time. Tom Philips and Alex Riley have the call.
1 – BAYLEY & CHARLOTTE vs. ALICIA FOX & AKSANA – Tag Team match
Aksana and Bayley start things, with Charlotte getting the crowd to cheer for Bayley. Aksana offers a hug, and Bayley falls for it. Aksana tags in Fox to continue the attack. Bayley is isolated in the corner. Bayley is begging for the tag, then a belly-to-belly from Bayley allows a double tag. Charlotte wants a quick cover, but Fox slips out. Charlotte is moving like Kofi Kingston.
Charlotte to the top, but Fox grabs her for a slam. Charlotte rolls through on impact and fires back with a clothesline for two. Charlotte with a torture rack, but Bayley tags herself in to Charlotte’s dismay. Fox immediately sends Bayley to her own corner, but Bayley dodges a big boot and Aksana gets sent to the floor. Bayley capitalizes with a quick roll-up for three.
WINNERS: Bayley & Charlotte in 4:30. Folks, Charlotte is the one to watch as a potential match with Paige having some real legs to it. She had about a minute of ring time, and made the most of it.
Post-match, Charlotte forgets the confusion and celebrates with Bayley big time.
Backstage, Scott Dawson and Sylvester LaFort are talking, and Alexander Rusev shows up. LaFort says that tonight is about taking out Mason Ryan. They vow to watch each other’s backs. Rusev has “Mason” written in Sharpie on a board, and Rusev breaks it on his knee. LaFort and Dawson vow to go to Sizzler after Rusev beats Ryan.
It is Rick Victor against Corey Graves. Victor has Graves’s title that he stole last week after the backstage beating.
2 – COREY GRAVES (w/Adrian Neville) vs. RICK VICTOR (w/Conor O’Brian)
Graves tosses his jacket at Victor to distract him, and follows with a double leg takedown and a mauling on the mat. Graves grounds Victor.
[Q2] Victor with kicks and knees to Graves’ taped ribs. Running cross-body put Victor down, but Graves is in too much pain to follow up. Graves wants to rally, but Victor dumps him ribs first into the ropes and he bounces out onto the ground.
[ Commercial Break ]
Graves is taking a beating, but trying to fight back. Victory with uppercuts and chops in the corner. Fireman carry into a gut buster for two. Match starts to really drag as Victor maintains control. Graves mounts a full comeback, barely able to move his left arm or breath. O’Brian threatens to get involved so Neville takes him out. Victor suddenly picks up Graves and wants a move from the fireman’s carry, but Graves hangs onto his neck and rolls him up for a win.
WINNER: Corey Graves in 9:30. The match was about two minutes too long, it started to move too slowly near the end. Nice ending, with Neville taking out O’Brian before he could actually interfere with the match, a nice twist on the usual WWE formula. Good match to put over Graves as the plucky underdog with heart.
Post-match, O’Brian rushes the ring, but Graves is already gone, and Graves snatches back his title.
Backstage, Sasha Banks is putting on makeup, and Summer Rae comes in asking if she’s figuring out how to be relevant next week. Banks wants to be left alone. Rae makes Paige out to be a snob and suggests that Banks lose control of her anger and destroy Paige. Banks looks conflicted as Rae leaves her.
Backstage, Renee Young has an interview with an angry Paige. She asks about Summer Rae’s mind games. Paige says it doesn’t matter, and that Banks is really good, but she’s the champion for a reason. Paige says that she’s the anti-Diva, which means that she’s there to cover opponents, not be a cover girl, and that Banks needs to ask Summer Rae what it’s like to take a beating from Paige.
[ J.J.’s Reax: Interesting to see how they have been developing this storyline. I am curious to see where it is going. Summer Rae continues to do a good job evolving her character, while Paige’s promo was just right, holding the right level of respect for her opponent, confidence in herself, and anger towards Summer Rae, in a manner that didn’t undercut anyone. It appears the silliness with dance battles is behind them. ]
[Q3] Sylvester LaFort cuts off Byron Saxton to introduce Scott Dawson himself. He then introduces Alexander Rusev as the newest member of his money making “legionnaires.” Rusev has another “Mason” board to break. I’m waiting for Enzo Amore and Colin Cassidy to show up.
3 – MASON RYAN vs. ALEXANDER RUSEV (w/Scott Dawson and Sylvester LaFort)
Rusev is able to get a draw against Ryan on the first lock-up, but Ryan sends him into the corner twice. Rusev with a kick to get an edge, but Ryan runs him over quickly. Running spinning heel kick drops Ryan. Rusev with a rapid series of head drops. Ryan is reeling. Ryan dodges a charge and starts a comeback. Ryan hip-tosses Dawson over the ropes and into the ring then clears him off the opposite side with a clothesline. LaFort with a distraction that lets Rusev take advantage and lock in a nasty looking Camel Clutch for a quick submission win.
WINNER: Alexander Rusev in 4:00. Mason Ryan is becoming a real NXT success story. He went from “dangerous in the ring” to “adequate” and this match with Rusev was actually enjoyable. A lot of the success comes from how he has been used, first as the monster who cleared something like 11 people from a Royal Rumble in a minute to dominating Amore and Cassidy, setting him up to make Rusev look like a legitimate threat. Rusev definitely has potential here.
Outside the arena, Leo Kruger is chuckling over Xavier Woods writhing in pain.
Sami Zayn is out first for his heavily advertised match against Jack Swagger. It will be good to see where Swagger is at, since it has been so long since he wrestled a long singles match.
4 – SAMI ZAYN vs. JACK SWAGGER (w/Zeb Colter)
Initial fire out of the bell showing the personal nature of this match. Zayn corners swagger but Swagger bounces out. Zayn with a dropkick to cut Swagger off. Swagger wants to send Zayn sky high but Zayn kicks him. Zayn wants a dive to Swagger outside, but Swagger moves so Zayn transitions mid-air to springboard back into the ring instead. Zayn wags a finger at Swagger to show he’s not a fool. Zayn demands swagger return to the ring. Swagger delays so Zayn heads ringside to continue the fight.
Zeb Colter keeps Zayn’s attention letting Swagger run Zayn over. Swagger showing more motivation than he has in a while.
[ Commercial Break ]
Zayn is fighting out of a hold, but runs into a belly-to-belly for two. Swagger with speed and strength to keep Zayn in the corner, then a clothesline sending Zayn down hard.
[Q4] Zayn low bridges Swagger to get some needed space. Big flip dive over the top and the crowd is on their feet. Zayn with a top rope cross-body for two with major hang time. Zayn can barely get to his feet, but fights out of the Patriot Lock. Gutwrench powerbomb gets a close nearfall for Swagger, and the crowd is going nuts. Straps are down and Swagger has the Patriot Lock in mid-ring. The crowd is begging Zayn to not tap, and he finally gets to the ropes. Swagger toys with Zayn.
Zayn gets feet up on a Swagger Bomb attempt, and manages a cross-ring big boot on his gimpy ankle for a very close call. The crowd is totally exploding. Repeated double axe handles put Swagger down. Zayn hobbles to the top rope, but Swagger hits the rope, then meets Zayn up top. Sunset flip powerbomb and Swagger kicks out as the ref’s hand hits the mat to stay alive.
Bo Dallas comes out from the back to big boos. He acts like he is cheering for Zayn. The distraction lets Swagger put on another Patriot Lock, and this time, Zayn has to tap. Dallas acts disappointed.
WINNER: Jack Swagger in 15:00. The match moved so fast, it felt like five minutes, not 15. Zayn with another excellent match, and Swagger reminded everyone what he’s capable of when given room to work outside of the WWE formula.
Overall Reax: Another good episode of NXT that built storylines and lays foundations at the same time. Few lowlights on the show, and lots of highlights. For those who want to know what the WWE will be like in five years, catch Charlotte’s minute of ring time, Corey Graves, Paige’s promo, and the Zayn vs. Swagger match.
NOW CHECK OUT THE PREVIOUS FLASHBACK: 5 YRS AGO – NXT TV REPORT (8-28-03): Neville, Summer Rae, Enzo, Dawson, C.J. Parker (Juice Robinson), Tyler Breeze, Zeb Colter, Sami, Emma
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.