28th Nov2019

‘WWE NXT’ Review (Nov 27th 2019)

by Nathan Favel

Welcome to this week’s NXT review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have the aftermath of NXT dominating Survivor Series (nipple clamps, spankings, ball gags, etc.). This better be good or Elton John will stick his tongue down the throat of a “Tiny Dancer”. Hold me close Ti…always be closing!

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Match #1: The Undisputed ERA def. Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic – NXT Tag Team Championship Match

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

After suffering their defeat in TakeOver: WarGames’ eponymous main event, it seemed that The Undisputed ERA’s title reigns might be running on borrowed time. But in the case of the NXT Tag Team Championships at least, they found a way to flip the hourglass Wednesday — even in the face of injury. The Undisputed ERA retained their titles against the team of Keith Lee & Dominik Dijakovic, despite Roderick Strong needing to step into the match early on as an injury replacement for Bobby Fish. Lee & Dijakovic brought the Full Sail crowd to their feet later with a scintillating sequence. First, Dijakovic toppled both Strong & O’Reilly at ringside with an awe-inspiring springboard senton from the top rope. That action drew Adam Cole down the ramp moments later, but he was blindsided by a shoulder block from Lee that sent The Panama City Playboy soaring over the barricade into a group of fans. With both The Limitless Superstar and Dijakovic shocked by the spectacle in front of them, Strong & O’Reilly were able to gather their bearings and take down The Rare Breed back in the ring with a lightning-quick high-low combination for the victory. Though the events certainly diverged from The Undisputed ERA’s blueprint for victory, they once again left no doubt about their championship mettle.

My Opinion: 3.8 out of 5 – This was a fabulous match that always had something worth watching. Going twenty-odd minutes, this was how a prize fight ought to be. I’ve got nothing bad about this match to say. This was hard-hitting in every way you can think of. In the name of Samantha Bee’s massive ego, this was a great way to start the show.

Match #2: Mansoor def. Shane Thorne

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Mansoor’s remarkable roll is showing no sign of slowing down anytime soon. Having already staked out an impressive collection of victories — including winning the largest Battle Royal in WWE history earlier this year and knocking off Cesaro last month — the 24-year-old’s potential appears to know no bounds. WWE’s first Saudi Arabian-born Superstar picked up another victory Wednesday on NXT, this time defeating Shane Thorne in one-on-one competition. It didn’t come easy, either, with Mansoor having to overcome a disadvantage borne from a clever counter by “The Worst.” Thorne caught Mansoor’s attempted tope suicida, instead hitting a back suplex on the outside ring mats. Mansoor’s second bid at an aerial attack was successful, however, and he dropped Thorne with a slingshot neckbreaker moments later to secure the win.

My Opinion: 2.1 out of 5 – This went a couple of minutes, but had the right winner. Natalie Cole had love on her mind and this match was two to three minutes of “That’s right Muriel. That’s right”.

Match #3: Candice LeRae def. Dakota Kai (Disqualification)

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Dakota Kai mostly escaped atonement for her sins — for now anyway. Candice LeRae sought to make her former teammate pay for betraying Team Ripley four days earlier at TakeOver: WarGames, but left with only a disqualification victory — and plenty of pain for her troubles. Narrowly kicking out after Kai hit the “Kairopractor,” LeRae locked the Gargano Escape on her teammate-turned-turncoat moments later. The Captain of Team Kick eventually broke free, though, and shortly after cost herself the match by blasting Tenacious C over the head with the same knee brace she ripped off of Tegan Nox at WarGames. Further tapping into the previously-not-seen viciousness she first displayed on that night, Kai — who we learned had been fined for putting her hands on NXT General Manager William Regal during that beat down of Nox — continued the assault, repeatedly throwing LeRae into the steel steps. But when Kai looked to escalate the attack by wielding a steel chair, Rhea Ripley emerged at ringside to kick the chair from her hands. Apparently wanting no part of Ripley and the vengeance The Nightmare likely had in mind, Kai fled the scene, leaving Ripley to check on the visibly hurt LeRae.

My Opinion: 3.5 out of 5 – They just couldn’t resist cutting this thing short of being good…is what I would say if this went short, but it didn’t! Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!! Today’s secret word is…f— yeah! Yaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!! I am the Babushka Mermaid! Kai is a much better heel than Bayley, but she isn’t as good of a bottle of alcohol as Bayley (gotta Jack Lemmon the hell out of my coffee somehow). Next time, just let this match go longer…because twelve minutes isn’t enough, damn it!

Match #4: Lio Rush def. Akira Tozawa – NXT Cruiserweight Championship Match

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

If Lio Rush’s mind is still on Angel Garza, it doesn’t seem to be slowing him down one bit in the ring. The Man of The Hour successfully defended his NXT Cruiserweight Championship against Akira Tozawa on Wednesday after being prepped with an answer for every move The Stamina Monster had in store for him. Both competitors were keenly familiar with each other’s repertoires after doing battle in a Triple Threat match along with Kalisto during Sunday’s Survivor Series Kickoff — the same night that also saw Rush ambush Garza backstage with a vicious punch, likely a receipt for disrespecting Rush’s family two weeks ago. Rush’s title reign was seemingly in jeopardy when he was sent crashing to the outside by Tozawa’s German suplex from the apron. The tide shifted in favor of The Man of The Hour, however, when he caught Tozawa with knees to the back during an attempt to finish things off with a top-rope senton. From there, it was time for The Final Hour — once to Tozawa’s back, and again to his abdomen — to clinch the victory.

My Opinion: 3.6 out of 5 – Damn good. This is what wrestling is all about. Cheryl Lynn said “You Got To Be Real” and these guys did. Bing Bang Boom…I crappa’d my pantsa a lotta. More cruiserweight action or else…I’ll be mad! Yeah. Take that!

Match #5: Xia Li def. Vanessa Borne

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

Xia Li defeated Vanessa Borne in one-on-one action, a matchup that “The Vision” demanded after Li injured her ally Aliyah earlier this month.

My Opinion: 1.1 out of 5 – A minute of suck. This was like watching a goldfish run for Mayor of Wilmington, Delaware. That’s right. I went for the jugular! Happy Birthday, Carol!

Match #6: (Main Event) Finn Bálor def. Tommaso Ciampa

The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

For weeks, the WWE Universe wondered if Finn Bálor was in cahoots with Adam Cole. “The Prince” finally delivered his answer: a resounding no. Bálor defeated Tommaso Ciampa in a clash of two of the black-and-gold brand’s alpha males thanks to an assist from the NXT Champion, then blindsided Cole moments later. Once again embracing a more sinister edge in his first bout at Full Sail in more than three years, Bálor seemed intent on putting Ciampa back on the shelf the same way he injured Johnny Gargano. But Ciampa countered the attempt at the 1916 DDT on the ramp, dropping Bálor with an Air Raid Crash. With the action moving back to the ring, “The Prince” narrowly escaped pinfall attempts after The Blackheart connected with Project Ciampa and another Air Raid Crash — this time off the second rope. Cole arrived at ringside just as Ciampa seemed poised to finish things off for good. Though Ciampa initially staved off his foe, The Panama City Playboy’s presence tipped the scales in Bálor’s favor. In a chaotic matter of seconds, the NXT Championship found its way into the ring. With the official temporarily distracted while removing the title, Cole dropped Ciampa with an enziguri from the outside. Bálor then planted The Blackheart with the 1916 DDT and from there, the pinfall was academic.

My Opinion: 3.3 out of 5 – Disappointing for a few reasons, but it was still a nice ten minute match. Donna Summers is hot. This should have been a classic, but it simply served as proof that no wrestling league is exempt from falling below expectations, including NXT. I wish this had gone longer, but it was pretty fun while it lasted.

News Of The Night:

  1. Killian Dain fights Damien Priest, next week.
  2. Bobby Fish was injured before the Tag Title Match, so Roderick Strong replaced him.
  3. Rhea Ripley is the next contender to Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s Title.

Final Verdict: 3.8/5

There was some fine wrestling here, but there was also some dull booking here that will put your buttcheeks to sleep. Also, the show started with a long promo, so kiss my ass.

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