Two from two in 2015... aren't I doing well? We were geared up for this week's NXT with the announcements that, this week, we would not only get Hideo Itami vs Curtis Axel, but the return of our new NXT Champion, Sami Zayn. Excellent stuff. Before we've even time to go get a nice cold beverage and a packet of Doritos, that all-too-familiar music started to echo through Full Sail University...
Out comes Sami Zayn to a thunderous ovation, in his first appearance since becoming NXT champion at Takeover: REvolution. Not wanting the celebration to end, Sami jumps into the crowd to meet his adoring public. When he finally gets back in the ring, he gives us the usual new champ speech, saying that the NXT title is "our title" and not just his. He says that REvolution was the greatest night of his life, but Kevin Owens, the one man he thought he could always trust, took it away from him. With that, the former champion Adrian Neville came out for a few words. he congratulates Sami and admits that on the night, Sami proved to be the better man. Zayn graciously accepts the kind words, before reminding Neville that they get to do it all over again, and as a fighting champion, Zayn offers Neville a quick rematch for the NXT championship. What's a party without the GM of the show though? Out comes William Regal to praise both men on the match at REvolution, and to announce that the rematch will take place... NEXT WEEK! Excellent news, and a cracking way to kick off the show.
Hideo Itami vs Curtis Axel
Opening match of the night? Had this down as the main event, but no issue with this. We know the score here, Itami is one of the best in the world, and Axel is trying to get his career recharged. It may not have lasted very long, but did we really expect Axel to waltz in and defeat one of the hottest signings in WWE history? Nah. He done exactly what he was at NXT to do though, and that was let everyone know he was still around, and still hungry for success. Itami starts off on the front foot, using his trust-worthy kicks while Axel is in the corner. Curtis gets some space, and smashes Itami with a huge forearm, before catching him up in the ropes and delivering some hard clubbing blows to the back of Itami's head. A standing dropkick follows, and Itami looks to be in a bit of trouble. Itami gets some room to breathe, throwing his whole body behind a clothesline, before hanging Axel up on the top rope. He goes for a kick, but Axel catches it, setting Itami up for the Perfectplex, Itami would reverse it though, putting together a nifty snapmare/spinning kick combo to pick up the win.
Axel is far from through, and I expect him to be sniffing around the NXT title at one point this year. It makes sense, get some momentum behind him before trying him back on the main roster. He still has title reigns left in him, and he can be a joy to watch in the ring at times. He'll find his niche in no time, but I look forward to seeing him on NXT every week. It would appear that Itami and Balor may be going their separate ways for now, after dispatching The Ascension with minimal effort. This may be perhaps leading up to the two of them facing off down the line. It would certainly make for some excellent matches.
Backstage Segment
Byron Saxton is looking for a quick interview with Tyson Kidd, but Natalya insists that he's preparing for his big match with Finn Balor next week. Saxton congratulates her on the new season of Total Divas starting back, but before she can respond, Tyson sends her away to go check on "his" cats. He then proceeds to tell Byron that he's looking past Finn Balor, and that he has his sights set on being NXT champion, the face of NXT, and the face of the SPCA. Cool story, bro. The match with Balor will be quality but.
Alexa Bliss vs Sasha Banks w/Becky Lynch
Alexa Bliss is just the cutest thing, isn't she? Out she comes, all sparkly and dancing about. We get reminded that a few weeks ago, Sasha Banks broke Bliss' nose, so this match would perhaps see Alexa get some retribution against the Boss. Some usual smack talk from Banks starts us off, before she shoves Alexa in the face. Bliss retorts with some forearms, before catching Banks with a sunset flip in the corner for a two count. She goes for a head-scissors but Sasha catches her, hitting a backbreaker for only a count of one. Banks takes control, slamming Bliss' face into the mat, before Bliss tries to rally with a small cradle. Banks sends Alexa into the corner, and catches her attempt at kicking Sasha away, setting her up on the middle rope and driving her knees down into Alexa's abdomen. The writing was on the wall here, as Banks hit the lung buster followed up by the Bank Statement submission, giving Bliss no choice but to tap out.
I hope Alexa Bliss doesn't get lost in the shuffle, she seems to have a lot of ability, but absolutely no luck with injuries and what not. Hopefully we see her gaining some momentum soon. Banks continues her pursuit of Charlotte's NXT Women's championship, and if she keeps racking up wins every week, she'll find herself bang in contention for yet another crack at the champ. Her two losses to Charlotte seem to have made her all the more determined to take the title from her former partner, and it may happen sooner rather than later.
Tyler Breeze vs Chad Gable
The returning Tyler Breeze took on Chad Gable in what was a surprisingly competitive, if not a slightly short, match. Gable was making his NXT television debut, and it's revealed he's a former Olympian. The announce team do a decent job of putting him over as a fresh young talent to keep an eye on, and the crowd were right behind him from the start, which is always a good sign. Gable takes Breeze to the ground from the bell, trying to use his amateur background to keep control of the match. Front face-lock applied, with Gable rolling over on his head each time Breeze tries to escape the hold. Never seen that before, it was pretty cool. Back at a vertical base, Breeze delivers some shots to the kidneys, before getting Gable in the corner and stomping on him. A short legdrop brings a two count for Breeze, before he applies a headlock of his own. Gable manages to get free, grounding Breeze again, and dropping his knee onto Breeze's arm a couple of times, before getting him in the corner and applying an armbar over the top rope. He shouldn't have taken his eyes off the prize though, as he rushed back to his feet, only to be caught with Breeze's Beauty Shot, allowing a successful return to action for Prince Pretty.
An impressive showing from gable, who had a tough ask in the form of the returning Breeze. We'll likely see him again in the coming weeks to get a better idea of what the guy is all about, but the crowd were behind him, and he was by no means a jobber in this match. As for Breeze, it's obvious where he's headed, and that's straight into the fiery wrath of Marcus Louis. Leaving the ring, an ominous figure could be seen in the background, watching Breeze from afar. The shiny bald head suggests in was Louis, who hadn't been seen since Breeze tore into him last month, forcing him to leave the building and wander into the night.
Backstage Segment
Finn Balor is being interviewed backstage, and Devin asks for his thoughts heading into his match with Tyson Kidd next week. He shows respect to Tyson, claiming that he's been someone Finn has looked up to his whole career. He says that Tyson may love his cats, but it'll take much more than nine lives to deal with Finn Balor.
The Lucha Dragons (c) vs The Vaudevillains (NXT Tag Team Championship Match)
After the controversy surrounding their defeat at REvolution, The Vaudevillains were granted a rematch for the tag team championships by William Regal, when it was realized that the Lucha Dragons retained by pinning the illegal man in the match. Gotch and English would send a message last week, when they attacked the Lucha Dragons after they had defeated Tye Dillinger and Jason Jordan.
Kalisto was fired up for this one, firing some rights and lefts after catching Gotch with a springboard crossbody. Sin Cara gets tagged in and we get some double team action, including both Lucha Dragons kicking Gotch in the chest, before Sin Cara sent Kalisto onto Gotch in a wheelbarrow senton. A pretty innovative submission next, as Sin Cara sets up Gotch for what looks like a Gory Bomb, but he holds onto the catch, hooking Gotch's arms and legs in front of him. Realizing that Gotch wasn't going to tap out, he quickly changes tactics, turning it into a backslide pin, but Gotch kicks out after one. Aiden English gets in and begins a dominant period for The Vaudevillains, but Kalisto and Cara get more momentum, eventually hitting the twin suicide dives to the outside. Sin Cara got English back in the ring for the cover, but again it only gathers a one count. Kalisto sends Gotch off the apron, and tries to hit English with his springboard hiptoss, but as he comes off the top rope, Gotch grabs the ankle of English, making sure he doesn't get thrown over and sending Kalisto crashing to the mat. Gotch and English take control again, dropping some knees across the chest of Kalisto, and locking in some rest holds to wear him down. Kalisto gets some separation, and tries for a roll-up to steal the match, but English is smart to the move and keeps applies another chinlock to stop Kalisto making a tag. Sin Cara finally gets the tag, and goes about taking control of the match with a springboard crossbody to English. Gotch eats a dropkick for trying to run interference, before Cara gets English up top and delivers the sunset bomb that put Dillinger and Jordan away last week. Gotch makes it back in to break up the count though, and goes after Kalisto, who pulls down the top rope, sending Gotch over. Kalisto tags himself in, as Sin Cara rolls English up, he holds on though, dead-lifting the Vaudevillain as Kalisto climbed the top rope and delivered a twisting STO type move while Sin Cara held English up. I've no idea the name of the move, but it looked cool, and it got the job done, as Lucha Dragons retained yet again!
No doubt Gotch and English will find themselves with another title shot soon, and I still see it perfectly viable that they would be tag champs in the month or so. Every chance that, now The Ascension have flown the nest, that Kalisto and Sin Cara are the next tag team to receive the big call up, and it wouldn't come as much surprise.
Overall, it was another really decent episode of NXT, but I can't help but feel that with all this new firepower in the locker room, simply fighting for your place on the show isn't enough. I'd personally love to see them stretch the show out to an hour and a half, or perhaps even an hour and three quarters. That may give enough time to fit in guys who maybe aren't getting enough TV time as you would expect. This was the last ever broadcast of NXT on Thursdays, as it will be shown on Wednesdays from now on. Marking their first Wednesday night with Zayn vs Neville for the NXT Championship and Balor vs Kidd will do just the trick, and expect NXT to keep the momentum up as the New Year has been attacked head on. As for this show, it receives a solid 7/10.