My viewing of NXT 2016 begins with the first show of February as I begin a game of catch up and what better way to start than with an episode headlined by an NXT Title match.
TONIGHT: Finn Balor defends the NXT Championship against Apollo Crews
1) The Vaudevillans (Simon Gotch & Aiden English) vs. The Hype Bros (Zack Ryder & Mojo Rawley)
Pretty basic opening match between former NXT Tag Team Champions and the newly formed team of Ryder & Rawley. It's kinda depressing to think about Zack Ryder being placed back in NXT, but then again it's not because NXT has hype and it's given Ryder something consistent to work with instead of just floundering around and jobbing on the main roster. Ryder & Rawley flurry early with some team work before the Vaudevillains take control. They isolate Ryder which builds to him fighting back and getting the hot tag to Rawley. He cleans house and gets the crowd going before Gotch & English shut him down with an uppercut to the back followed by a neckbreaker. That's all she wrote. Vaudevillains score the win.
Match rating - **
Last week, Carmella won a battle royal to become the #1 Contender to the NXT Championship. Scott Dawson interviews her about that as well as her match next week where she challenges her close friend, Bayley, for the title.
The NXT Tag Team Champions Dash & Dawson are backstage to talk about their comments on Carmella, Enzo, & Cass. They offer them another title match even though they've already beaten them once because they're on the road to becoming the greatest NXT Tag Team Champions of all time.
2) Carmella vs. Emma (w/ Dana Brooke)
Stephanie McMahon starts Raw in typical fashion. Triple H isn't here tonight and just as that is said, Roman Reigns comes out. Thankfully they keep this short & sweet with Reigns shushing Stephanie before getting straight to the point about beating H's ass again at Mania and what not. Reigns leaves Stephanie in the ring with her jaw dropped.
1) Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles
Non title rematch from Smackdown. Ironically enough, I didn't get around to watching that match until today so it ended up being perfect time since this match is happening now. It starts off slow, similar to their first encounter, with Kev working over AJ viciously with a headlock as he attemps to ground him. Things soon pick up though and this thing shifts into a high gear. Before you know it, this has topped their first meeting and becomes arguably the best TV match so far this year. Hard hitting, back and forth action with multiple breath taking moments. They did a sick striking exchange that lead to a stalemate. Owens took the backfist sequence, nailed AJ with a superkick, Styles fired up and nailed Kev with a paylay before falling to the mat. That sends us to our second commercial break of the match. This one had to go 15 minutes or longer. Back from commercial, they struggle for position on the top rope, AJ hits a sunset flip powerbomb to KO for a nearfall. Styles hits his neckbreaker on the knee along with a torture rack into a blue thunder bomb, both only get him two, but garner a great reaction from the crowd. Chris Jericho ends up walking down with a mic in his hand as he repeats AJ's name over and over. AJ doesn't let it distract him this time like it did on Smackdown so he nails Owens with the springboard superman punch and goes for the calf killer. Y2J gets up on the apron and AJ goes to strike him which allows KO to roll him up for the three count. Awesome match.
Match rating - ****
After the match, AJ chases Jericho to the back as Owens celebrates. The Intercontinental Champion grabs his title along with the mic to talk about how he doesn't have a WrestleMania opponent yet. It's really good stuff per usual with Kev. Dolph Ziggler interrupts, followed by The Miz, and ultimately by Kevin's arch rival Sami Zayn who gets some good talking time in. Owens leaves and says none of them deserve a title match at Mania, but he'll give them the chance in a #1 Contender's Triple Threat Match later in the night.
Dean Ambrose is at a bar in a previously filmed segment earlier in the day. He talks about his street fight with Brock Lesnar at Mania. Last week, Mick Foley gave him the barbed wire bat and this week, Terry Funk is here. Funk builds up Ambrose and gives him a chainsaw which Ambrose puts to quick use by cutting up a table. Cool moment and it was great seeing the Funkster.
2) Big E vs. Rusev
Instead of a promo, Raw begins with action this week in the form of a Tag Team Championship Match.
1) The New Day (c) vs. Rusev & Alberto Del Rio - WWE Tag Team Title Match
Sheamus & Barrett couldn't get the job done at Road Block on Friday, so Rusev & Del Rio want their chance to bring gold back to the League of Nations squad. It's another high impact match here with Big E & Xavier representing New Day. E & Rusev slug it out early before Xavier gets tagged in and gets beaten down. New Day are pretty much working at babyfaces at this point so we didn't get their signature heat segment that I love so much. The trumpet did sound, however, and it ruled. They build up to the hot tag for Big E who collides with Rusev once again. The Russian brute is met with three consecutive belly to belly suplexes which turns out to be the start of a great final few minutes of big moves and close falls. Sick spot with Del Rio blocking Big E's apron spear and hitting a variation of the double stomp to the chest with Big E hanging over the second rope. Kofi takes out Sheamus & Barrett when they try to interfere which allows Xavier to roll up Rusev for the win.
Match rating - ***1/4
Immediately after the match, Rusev jumps on Xavier. I mean, IMMEDIATELY. It was amazing, Rusev is so good, he made this feel like a real scrap as the rest of League of Nations trickled in. The premise of their group may be silly, but they all hit hard as hell so this beatdown on New Day was pretty fantastic. It was basically the official sign of a New Day face turn and League of Nations picked up a bunch of heat. I really enjoyed this.
Dean Ambrose hits the ring around 30 minutes into the show. This leads to a confrontation with Brock Lesnar at a spot on the show which you wouldn't expect. I totally forgot these two are scheduled for a No Holds Barred Street Fight at Mania. Heyman says Lesnar isn't fighting tonight despite Ambrose agging him on. Heyman leaves after speaking his part, but Brock stays behind and HE STARTS MARCHING TO THE RING! Ambrose reveals a crow bar fromup under his jacket which slows Brock down momentarily as Heyman runs back down to ringside. Lesnar circles the ring, teases entering as Ambrose charges him with the crow bar. Eventually, Lesnar finally leaves and heads to the back.
2) Ryback vs. Sin Cara (w/ Kalisto)
Shane McMahon is out first with some things to say regarding what he will do when he gets charge of Raw after beating Undertaker at Mania. He hits a sweet note with the Chicago crowd by mentioning backstage politics. Then, out of nowhere, the gong hits. UNDERTAKER? Nah, just Vince trolling. It gets a ton of heat too so hey. However, it also garners a CM Punk chant. None the less, Vince ends up trying to get Shane thrown out by security, but Shane fights them off and leaves on his own accord with his music playing.
1) Kevin Owens vs. Neville
You just can't go wrong with a Big Kev/Neville match. So, this was a great hot first match to start the show off with. I've come to love that Owens & Neville never have the same match despite having a limited time slot on these TV meetings they've had during the past year. They always throw in something different to take your breath away just like they did here as Owens busted out his step up moonsault from the top rope while Neville hit a sick shooting star press off the top turnbuckle. They traded german suplexes which ruled because Neville bumps perfectly for everything. Neville hits the red arrow for a false finish. He starts heading back to the top rope again only for Kev to roll him up and use the tights to keep him down for three.
Match rating - ***1/4
After the match, Owens isn't done and decides to beat down Neville some more. He sets him up for the powerbomb on the ring apron when SAMI ZAYN'S MUSIC HITS! HOLY SHIT! Zayn runs down and we've got a fight bah gawd! Owens ends up retreating as Zayn helps up Neville and amps up the crowd. Looks like Owens has found his WrestleMania opponent in the form of a decade long rival/tag team partner. Everything about this was perfect.
2) Summer Rae vs. Brie Bella
TONIGHT: Christopher Daniels vs. Dalton Castle
1) Lio Rush vs. Brian Fury - Final Round Match in the Top Prospect Tournament
Big match to kick off the show. It's been a fun time watch Rush & Fury cut through the competiton the past few weeks. This made for a slightly anti climatic match here, to be honest. It was enjoyable with Rush's offense being nice & flashy and Fury getting a control sequence, but it didn't exceed the average category, unfortunately. The best moment of the match was during the final minute when Fury grabbed the ropes for a nearfall as a callback to how he won his previous matches in the tournament. Fury hits the pop up powerbomb to follow this up for a close finish. Rush then hits a spanish fly out of nowhere to become the 2016 ROH Top Prospect Tournament winner.
Match rating - **1/4
Nigel McGuinness and Cary Silkin celebrate with Lio Rush afterwards. I can't wait to see what they do with Rush. He's only a year into the business and he's already gotten this huge opportunity which is just a testament to his ability.
NEXT WEEK: Tag Team Gauntlet featuring ReDragon, The Young Bucks, RPG Vice, The Addiction, & more!
2) Moose vs. Kongo
The show begins with a shot of Prince Puma working out backstage. Pentagon Jr approaches and says after last week, they need to team up tonight to take out the Disciples of Death, but after that's done, Puma is next on Pentagon's last because CERO MIEDO! They do a movie-esque fight scene that ends with Puma pushing Pentagon up against the wall then walking off.
1) Johnny Mundo vs. Killshot
Killshot flurries early with a sasuke special to the outside on Mundo. Mundo is able to regain control soon after however his cockiness allows Killshot to nail him with an ace crusher for a nearfall. The crowd gets fired up as Killshot hits a sick combination of moves on Mundo in the corner which culminates in a DDT off the second turnbuckle for a two count. Mundo's experience advantage allows him to once again take back control and hit the starship pain split leg moonsault for the victory.
Match rating - **1/2
Mundo gets on the mic and calls out Mil Muertes who is still sitting on his throne like last week. This is becoming a trend this season and I like it. Muertes is THE man and everyone is gunning for him. Mundo can't finish his statement before Cage comes through the crowd to interrupt. This is Cage's best promo I've heard as he calls out Muertes and brings up the fact that he beat the ass of Johnny Mundo the last time they met. Cage & Mundo tease a confrontation before Mundo backs away and leaves.
Marty the Moth has Sexy Star tied up somewhere. She looks like she's been beaten. Marty is a sick son of a bitch, I tell ya. He teases her with a moth and says that his sister (whoever that is) said it's almost time for Sexy Star to spread her wings and fly back to the Temple. Marty says she won't go alone however because he's coming with her.
2) PJ Black vs. The Mack
The show begins with Vampiro in the midst of a psychiatric evaluation that came due to what happened at the end of least season in the form of his match with Pentagon Jr. With that said, go watch that match before you even start this second season of Lucha Underground, it has to be seen to be believed.
Vampiro answers all the questions from the doctor in the exact manner he wants to hear, but just as he does that, the thoughts he claims to not have flash before his eyes such as random acts of violence and nightmares. These flashes include moments from the Pentagon Jr match as well as him actually beating the doctor and biting him in the neck thus filling his mouth with blood. Amazing visuals here, like usual. None the less, the doctor releases him and he & Matt Striker talk about heading back to the temple although Striker warns him that it is reportedly much darker than when they were last there.
It's much darker due to Mil Muertes being the new Lucha Underground Champion and Catrina being in charge as a result. In the temple, Muertes now sits on a throne in the balcony as he intimidatingly will observe everything that happens there this season. And speaking of Catrina, she is approached by Fenix, the Gift of the Gods champion. Fenix wants his title shot against Mil Muertes, but she says he has to wait until next week because this week he defends HIS title against King Cuerno.
1) Fenix (c) vs. King Cuerno - Gift of the Gods Championship Match
What a way to kick off the season with this extremely hot title match. The pace is never slowed Cuerno flurries early with a dive to the outside however Fenix soon answers with a corkscrew to the outside of his own. The two continue to showdown with aerial displays in the ring. Fenix handstands into the ropes and hits a cutter which he transitions into a dragon sleeper. Cuerno escapes and puts Fenix in a surfboard before launching him headfirst into the second turnbuckle. After an exchange of big moves for nearfalls, Cuerno drops Fenix on his head with his new variation of the piledriver and pins him to the mat for three. Not even 15 minutes in and we've already crowned a new champion. Short and sweet match here with a hyped up crowd. King Cuerno now holds the Gift of the Gods Championship, a title which can be exchanged for a Lucha Underground title match at any time.
Match rating - ***
Backstage, Catrina confronts Ivelisse, Angelico, and Son of Havoc. She says that Muertes wants to see the former Trios champions face off against each other tonight. The winner will get a shot at his title later in the evening. Havoc is hesitant, but Ivelisse insists so the match is on. As they go to leave, Ivelisse turns around and says when she gets the title, she's coming for Catrina. AW SHIT.
2) Son of Havoc vs. Angelico vs. Ivelisse - #1 Contender's Match for the Lucha Underground Championship
