WEEKLY OVERVIEW – NXT (thru 5/16): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more

By Robert Doherty, PWTorch Contributor

NXT Photo credit Scott Lunn (@ScottLunn)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

The following is the latest in a new series of weekly in-depth articles exclusive to PWTorch which will help put in perspective major wrestling promotions with a weekly overview, looking at news and roster developments, results, future line-ups, social media activity, key interviews, plus a timely commentary at the end. We will be featuring similar features on other promotions each week and each will be updated weekly.


•Top Stories of the Week

  • It was announced this week on NXT TV that Percy Watson was stepping down from the announce table to “start a new chapter in his life” and that Beth Phoenix is his replacement.
  • WWE made it official that the Viking Warriors would be vacating their NXT Tag Team Titles and NXT General Manager William Regal is prepared to make an announcement regarding those titles on NXT TV next week.
  • NXT TakeOver in Bridgeport, CT got their two championship matches. NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler will defend her title against Io Shirai and NXT Men’s Champion Johnny Gargano will take on Adam Cole in a title rematch from last TakeOver.
  • WWE.com confirmed that DJZ is officially signed and will be reporting to the WWE Performance Center this week.

•NXT Live Event Results

May 10 Sebring, Fla.

  • Albert Hardie Jr. beat Mansoor Al-Shehail
  • Taynara Conti and Reina Gonzalez beat Xia Li and Karen Q
  • Jeet Rama beat Sam Shaw
  • Matt Lee and Jeff Parker beat Cal Bloom and Nick Comoroto
  • Shane Strickland beat Trevor Lee
  • Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch beat Saurav Gurjar and Rinku Singh
  • Shayna Baszler beat Kacy Catanzaro to retain NXT Women’s Championship
  • Matt Riddle beat Punishment Martinez

(Results courtesy of lordsofpain.net)

May 11 St. Augustine, Fla.

  • Eric Bugenhagen beat Brendan Vink
  • M.J. Jenkins beat Karen Q
  • Jeet Rama beat Sam Shaw
  • Trevor Lee beat Denzel Dejournette
  • Matt Riddle and Punishment Martinez beat Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner
  • Albert Hardie Jr. beat Mansoor Al-Shehail
  • KUSHIDA beat Shane Thorne
  • Shayna Baszler, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke beat Io Shirai, Mia Yim, and Candice LeRae

(Results courtesy of fightful.com)


•Upcoming Major Show Line-up: NXT TakeOver

NXT TakeOver
June 1, 2019
Location: Webster Arena – Bridgeport, CT

Projected Lineup:

  • Shayna Baszler (NXT Women’s Champion) vs. Io Shirai
  • Johnny Gargano (NXT Men’s Champion) vs. Adam Cole
  • Velveteen Dream (NXT North American Champion) vs. ?
  • The War Raiders (NXT Tag Team Champions) vs. ?

•Upcoming Live Events

Thursday May 16 – Sands Event Center (Bethlehem, Penn.)
Friday May 17 – The Fillmore Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Penn.)
Friday May 17 – St. Petersburg Armory (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
Saturday May 18 – Sanford Civic Center (Sanford, Fla.)
Saturday May 18 – APG Federal Credit Union Arena (Baltimore, Md.)
Sunday May 19 – Asbury Park Convention Hall (Asbury Park, New Jersey)
Thursday May 23 – Bartow Armory (Bartow, Fla.)
Friday May 24 – Fieldhouse at Watsco Center (Coral Gables, Fla.)
Saturday May 25 – Midtown Cultural and Education Center (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Thursday May 30 – Orlando Live Events (Casselbury, Fla.)
Friday May 31 – Maxwell Snyder Armory (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Saturday June 1 – NXT TAKEOVER WEBSTER ARENA (BRIDGEPORT, CONN.)
Friday June 14 – The Reserve Pavillion at Hilton (Ocala, Fla.)
Thursday June 20 – The Aztec Theatre (San Antonio, Texas) – JUST ADDED
Friday June 21 – Revention Music Center (Houston, Texas) – JUST ADDED
Saturday June 22 – South Side Ballroom (Dallas, Texas) – JUST ADDED
Sunday June 23 – The Criterion (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) – JUST ADDED
Thursday June 27 – Dade City Armory (Dade City, Fla.)
Friday June 28 – Crystal River Armory (Crystal River, Fla.)
Saturday June 29 – Venice Community Center (Venice, Fla.)


•Latest TV Highlights: 5/15 NXT TV Report

  • War Raiders in ring promo to vacate NXT Titles (3:17 – 9:20)
    • Interrupted by Street Profits (5:44)
  • The Undisputed Era fighting amongst themselves outside and interviewed by Cathy Kelly (11:47 – 14:00)
  • (1) Keith Lee beat Cezar Bononi by pinfall (16:36 – 19:04)
  • (2) KUSHIDA beat Kona Reeves by submission (26:01 – 31:07)
  • Cathy Kelly backstage with Bianca Belair and Mia Yim/Belair heads into Regals office (32:13 – 33:11)
  • Johnny Gargano shown in the training room tending to a bandaged Matt Riddle (34:45 – 35:20)
  • (3) Vanessa Borne w/Aliyah beat Jessie by pinfall (37:29 – 40:19)
  • (4) Viking Warriors and Street Profits end in no contest (47:41 – 49:51)
    • Forgotten Sons interrupt (49:47)
    • Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch interrupt (50:15)

(Check out PWTorch’s NXT TV Report HERE.)


•NXT in the Media

  • The Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly sat down with TalkSport to discuss his wild and crazy career adventure that has brought him to WWE. It’s incredible that he’s held the tag team titles in ROH, NJPW, and NXT. Read the entire interview HERE.

•Latest NXT Podcast – “PWT Talks NXT” PWTorch Livecast

In this episode, Kelly Wells, Justin James, and Harley R. Pageot cover the messy main event tag segment, whether Kassius Ohno can become a champion, a better showcase match for Kushida, and more.

-On Tune In Radio HERE
-On Apple Podcasts HERE
-Or search “PWTorch” or “Pro Wrestling Torch” on your podcast app of choice


•Top NXT Tweets of the Week

Another talent added to the most talented roster in the world.

At least somebody in WWE has the balls to recognize reality.

https://twitter.com/SuperKingofBros/status/1128667804411027457

This kid is going to be a WWE champ someday. Both of ….actually.

This match will be awesome. Love the NXT/205Live crossover matches.


•Thoughts and Comments

  • The Full Sail crowd was red hot for Keith Lee this week. He has the charisma to really get over with the NXT faithful, but he’s had a wildly disappointing run so far. It’s crazy to think that Lee made his debut in August of 2018 in a win against Marcel Barthel, and other than a one-off loss to Lars Sullivan, really hasn’t gotten much to work with since then. Maybe it’s time for Lee to live up to his limitless potential.
  • I might be the only one, but I just don’t agree with Adam Cole getting a rematch for Johnny’s title. I’m a firm believer in getting to the back of the line after a title loss, and Cole getting a rematch so close after losing at the last TakeOver doesn’t sit right. But hey, it’s Adam Cole, BayBay, so who am I to complain. More Cole, the better.
  • Even though the Street Profits appear to be the heir apparent to the NXT Tag Titles, I wouldn’t quite dismiss The Forgotten Sons.
  • I know I probably sound like a broken record…but how are NXT and Raw/Smackdown the same company? This story they are telling with The Undisputed Era, Johnny Gargano, and Matt Riddle is awesome. They add layers to it every week and we know we’ll get a conclusion on June 1 at the TakeOver in Connecticut. What did Roddy do to Matt Riddle? Is he lying to set up Cole? Is all the infighting between UE members just a ruse to suck Johnny in? These types of stories just don’t happen on the main roster.

NOW CHECK OUT OTHER WEEKLY OVERVIEWS HERE.

OR JUMP TO LAST WEEK’S WWE OVERVIEW: WEEKLY OVERVIEW – NXT (thru 5/10): Top stories of week, major show lineups, live event results, schedule of live events, noteworthy social media posts, more

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