WWE NXT
Location: Orlando, FL
Date: June 29, 2016
On commentary tonight, at Full Sail University, are Tom Phillips and Corey Graves.
Opening Segment
Singles Match: Carmella vs. Alexa Bliss
The two ladies grapple and break it off immediately. This is akin to a #2 contender’s match, with both women wanting to get another shot at the title, but finding themselves blocked off by Nia Jax.
Graves really likes Bliss’ new attitude as she makes a few early pinning attempts that garner only a 1 count each. Carmella, off the ropes, with the spinning head scissors and an awkward springboard fireman’s carry toss. Bliss leaves the ring and the referee starts counting. He gets to 5 until she returns, only to get hip tossed to the ground.
Carmella puts her in a side headlock. Bliss turns it into a sitting head scissors submission for a few moments but Carmella counters it into her side headlock again. The ladies return to their feet. Bliss off the ropes. Carmella counters a hip toss and slams her back to the mat for a continuation of her submission hold. Bliss breaks free, throwing Carmella to the corner. She tosses Carmella over the ropes and on to the apron. She works the left arm violently and gets a 2 count as…
We go to commercial.
When the show returns, Bliss is yanking hard on Carmella’s left arm. She bends it back and wrenches it into a rest hold. Carmella tries to escape but she can’t. Bliss uses her knees to smash the left arm. Then a backflip knee smash on Carmella’s torso and a 2 count. Bliss is furious that she didn’t win. She freaks out at the referee, giving Carmella time to recover. A left hand haymaker! Bliss charges and catches an elbow to the jaw. She charges again and it’s Carmella with the flying planchas. Atomic drop. Head smash into her foot on the top turnbuckle. Second rope hurricanrana! Heel kick and Bliss is down in the opposite corner. Broncobuster! Bliss evades a charge. Sunset flip and a 2 count! Desperation move from Bliss.
Bliss tells Carmella to “stay down!” as she mounts the turnbuckle. Carmella meets her there with elbows. She connects with a huge hurricanrana from the top rope. 2 pinfall attempts do not get the victory and its Carmella who’s upset now.
Bliss is hurting by the ropes and it draws Carmella in just to get choke slammed to the mat. She’s up on the top turnbuckle! Sparkle Splash! 1-2-3.
Winner: Alexa Bliss via pinfall in 9.5 minutes
One cool point for Alexa Bliss’ passion and perseverance, especially when Carmella executed quite a combo of moves that made a victory seem very possible for her. Bliss seems to have an extra gear, a chip on her shoulder that sets her apart from Carmella. Not sure if that’s just from working as a villain or an actual attitude thing. One cool point for Carmella who is beginning to show those same qualities and I feel this match did a lot of good in establishing her character as one to get behind for NXT fans.
Recap: We see excerpts from the confrontation between Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura from 2 weeks ago. This prefaces video from earlier today…
Nakamura says a bit about meeting Balor in Japan and how they met and got along. He came to NXT to face the best, and before becoming champion, he has to fight the icon, Finn Balor. It’s huge for him because they are great friends. It will be an exciting match. It will be something sensational.
Coming Up: Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano vs. The Hype Bros.
Second Segment
Backstage, its Cathy Kelley interviewing Bayley. She says it must feel great being back in the ring. Bayley concurs and she feels ready for her rematch against Asuka, and to regain her Women’s Championship.
Alexa Bliss enters the picture and says Bayley blew her chance. Bliss deserves it. She was in the triple threat. She just beat Carmella. Bayley will have to go through her to get back to Asuka. Bayley shrugs it off.
Third Segment
Singles Match: Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Noah Potjes
Off the opening grapple, Cien has the advantage for the most part with the gripping of hands. Potjes strikes first with a back elbow. Cien tumbles out of it, bounces off the ropes and dropkicks a ducking Potjes. Potjes leaves the ring and Cien hits him with a jumping swinging kick through the middle rope. He does his new trademark jump and hangout on the middle rope thing, to the glee of the fans.
Potjes returns to the ring to brawl, punching and kicking Cien to the mat. 1 count pinning attempt is followed up with a headlock. This slows down the match for a minute until Cien punches his way out of it. Springboard dropkick connects. Cien with more right hands that leave Potjes dazed. Wheelbarrow into the bulldog and Cien gets the crowd clapping. Running double knee smash in the corner and that’s enough to put Potjes down for the count.
Winner: Andrade “Cien” Almas via pinfall in 3 minutes
One cool point for Cien’s attempts to excite the crowd yet still focus on beating his opponent. He and No Way Jose are similar in that way, but Cien’s flashier and smoother. He makes bouncing around that ring look effortless.
Fourth Segment
Backstage, its Andrea D’Marco with Austin Aries, asking about his post-match attack on No Way Jose. Aries says he’s one of the greatest sports-entertainers in the world. NXT fans should feel privileged to watch him but they don’t. No Way Jose hasn’t accomplished anything but he shakes his hips and the fans chant his name. Aries doesn’t like that and he will give them something else not to like. From here on out, it’s on the fans for what he does in the ring.
Promo: Earlier today, Finn Balor shares when he met Nakamura and how he was under his wing in Japan. Nakamura is a true friend to him, like family, really. Balor’s been in NXT almost 2 years and he didn’t know if they would cross paths. He was excited to hear about Nakamura’s arrival in NXT, and happy to help him adapt to NXT. He’s not sure if he’s the icon of NXT but this match feels special. The fans are in for a real treat.
Also, earlier today, American Alpha arrives to the arena and they are looking serious.
Up Next: Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano vs. Hype Bros.
Final Segment
Next Week: Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley
Tag Team Match: Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano vs. The Hype Bros.
Phillips says it’s been awhile since we’ve seen Rawley and Ryder. Graves says it hasn’t been long enough. He praises Ryder for his success but notes he has to almost take care of Rawley down in NXT.
Rawley jogs corner to corner in preparation for the bout. It’s him and Gargano to start. Gargano shows off his tumbling abilities to begin. He gets Rawley in a side headlock but Rawley just tosses him off. Now Rawley is showing off his football skills, tackling Gargano and bringing him into their home corner. Ryder tags in and hits an over the ropes splash. Into the turnbuckle and across, Ryder with a hard clothesline and a 1 count. He tries for the suplex, holding Gargano for a few moments in the air, but Gargano counters and makes the tag with Ciampa. He’s thrown by Ciampa into Ryder but Ryder evades and hits Ciampa with a clothesline. Ryder charges at Gargano and gets a roll-up kick. Neckbreaker from Ciampa for a 2 count.
Ciampa tries to slow things down with a headlock. Ryder breaks free with a few punches to the gut and Ciampa whips him off the ropes only to receive a face first slam into the mat. He tags in Rawley. They throw Ciampa into the ropes. Ciampa stops himself. Rawley goes over the top when Ciampa pulls the rope down. Rawley returns the favor and Ryder connects with a through the ropes kick. Gargano runs out of nowhere with a diving plancha on Ryder, but he doesn’t notice Rawley charging at him with a vicious spear as…
We go to commercial.
Back in the ring, Rawley has Gargano close to the mat with a rest hold. Enziguri from Gargano allows him to tag in Ciampa and Ryder to tag in too. Ciampa with a flying clothesline. He receives double knees after charging the corner. Ryder tags in Rawley who starts bringing some Stinger-esque splashes. He tackles Ciampa off of his feet and tries to pin him but Gargano breaks it up. Rawley could’ve won it had his positioning been better
at first.
Going for the Hype Ryder, Gargano pulls Rawley out of the ring. Ryder’s distracted watching Gargano superkick Rawley. Ciampa clotheslines Ryder when he returns to the mat and gets a 2.5 count! Both tag partners return to their respective corners. Ciampa props Ryder up on the turnbuckle. Both he and Gargano get in position for a double suplex but it’s Rawley who delivers a double powerbomb! Ryder with the top rope elbow drop! 1-2-…NO! Gargano kicks out.
Outside the ring, Ciampa and Rawley are brawling. Inside the ring, Gargano rolls up Ryder for a close 2 count. Ryder runs in and delivers a beating to Gargano in the corner. He goes for the Broski Boot but Ciampa rushes to the apron to prevent it! Ciampa’s the legal man. He and Gargano rush the middle to kick Ryder in the head/chest and it’s enough to get them the victory. Impressive match!
Winners: Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano via pinfall in 9 minutes
One cool point for Ciampa & Gargano who win another tough match and who have established themselves as one of the premier tag teams in NXT. They are quite likeable just being hard-nosed, down-to-earth fighters. I’m giving a cool point to the Hype Bros too. That was a heck of a good effort from those two. They kept up the pace of that match and each guy had their moment to shine. That might have been their longest tag match wrestled and they proved capable of handling it. Now let’s see it again.
Post-match, Gargano gets a mic and reminds everyone they beat the now 2-time NXT Tag Team Champions, The Revival. He figures that puts them in line for a title shot.
Apparently, American Alpha has something to say about that cause their music hits and here they are.
Gable says no offense but they’re not next in line for anything. They lost their titles at Takeover and when/if Gargano & Ciampa get a shot, it will be against American Alpha. You better believe they’ll get their revenge against the Authors of Pain too, but, first, they want The Revival. Naturally, this brings the Tag Champs out.
They appreciate the flattery of being fought over, but, right now, they are calling the shots. Wilder makes fun of Gargano & Ciampa’s names. He says American Alpha are the betas; they are the A-Team.
Finally, NXT General Manager William Regal has heard enough and he walks on to the ramp. He says he dictates the terms, not The Revival. Regal says Gargano & Ciampa are in line, but we need to see who is truly dominant.
Next week, The Revival will face American Alpha in a best 2 out of 3 falls match!
The two teams in the ring shake hands and The Revival leave.
Suddenly, it’s the Authors of Pain attacking American Alpha from behind, stomping them down. Gargano & Ciampa try to interfere but they get tossed out immediately. Gable and Jordan try to fight back. Jordan overhead suplexes one of the partners!
Unfortunately, he’s clotheslined twice by the other one. Gable receives the same painful treatment as the crowd boos. Manager Paul Ellering appears on the stage, surveying the damage and he beckons the Authors of Pain towards him.
Two cool points for the shock of the Authors of Pain attack. Maybe some of you saw it coming but I thought once Regal booked that tag match for next week, it would be the end of the episode. The Authors attack was an effective reminder that a new team is on the prowl. Great match choice by Regal! With any luck, that match will last at least half of next week’s episode. It appears as though that match will likely go in The Revival’s favor, especially if we are witness to more shenanigans from the Authors. What do you think?
Looking forward to your cool point suggestions on tonight’s episode.
Source: www.lordsofpain.net