December 9, 2015
Episode 310
(taped)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Rich Brennan, Corey Graves, Byron Saxton
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Intro Video
“Roar of the Crowd” by CFO$
Match 1
Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady w/ Carmella vs Corey Hollis & John Skyler
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Cassady is angry and overpowers Skyler. Hollis and Amore tag in, and Amore picks up where Cassady left off. He’s also angry. Cassady comes back in, boot to Skyler, side slam on Hollis, tag to Amore, Rocket Launcher, the end.
Result: Amore pins Hollis after a Rocker Launcher (assisted top rope splash)
Time: 2:40
** A complete squash. It’s just build up for Takeover. Did I mention Cassady and Amore are angry? **
Ring Area
Amore and Cassady get on the mic and discuss how they put food on tables. They won’t let Dash and Dawson take away their food.
** Cassady’s angry face feels strange. Like he’s staring a hole through nothing in particular. And using “How you doin’?” as a threat is just awkward. **
Backstage
Tom Phillips asks Dana Brooke if she’s calmed down. She has. Emma wonders why Asuka has a red carpet rolled out for her, since the Emma-lution has paved the way for the revolution.
Video
Tye Dillinger promo. He is a perfect 10.
Match 2
Asuka vs Deonna Purrazzo
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Asuka feels out Purrazzo, looking for an advantage, then suddenly applies a cross armbreaker. Purrazzo gets to the ropes, but Asuka presses her advantage with some kicks and a hip attack. Emma’s music then plays as she and Dana Brooke hit the stage and stare at Asuka. Purrazzo tries to take advantage from behind, but she gets hit with a spin kick from Asuka. She’s knocked out.
Result: Asuka wins via KO with a spin kick
Time: 2:57
** Very one-sided and short, but I like how Asuka wrestles. She looked for an opening and took full advantage of it. Once she found it the match opened way up. I also like the KO victory (though the camera work lingered a but and made the segment feel a bit awkwardly long). **
Backstage
The Hype Bros talk about number 2.
Backstage
Alexa Bliss (in some kind of Freddy Kreuger looking getup) is really upset about losing to Bayley a few weeks ago. She blames Blake and Murphy. It all seems like a ruse to get Blake and Murphy pumped up for their upcoming match.
Video
A mysterious man plays guitar in a black and white promo video.
Match 3
The Hype Bros vs Blake & Murphy w/ Alexa Bliss
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Rawley is hyped (obviously) and takes control of both Blake and Murphy, sending them both to the floor. Ryder tags in fights off both Blake and Murphy too. Murphy then blindsides Ryder and takes control.
Ryder is in trouble in the wrong corner as Blake and Murphy work together to keep Ryder down. Ryder manages to tag in Rawley who runs through Blake. All four men get in the ring, but an eye rake from Blake and a super kick by Murphy lead to a pin attempt that Ryder has to break up.
Ryder sends Murphy to the floor, then makes a tag to Rawley. They hit the Hype Ryder for the win.
Result: Ryder pins Blake after Hype Ryder (leg lariat/spinebuster combination)
Time: 6:24
** Nice tag match. I thought Blake and Murphy would win, so it was a nice little surprise. Solid match. **
Backstage
Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin don’t see eye to eye, but they have other things to deal with tonight.
Match 4
Bayley (NXT Women’s Champ) vs Peyton Royce
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Peyton seems very concerned with posing early in the match. Bayley finds an opening, but takes an elbow to the back of the head and a running knee to the side of the head. Peyton looks pretty vicious with a foot in the face in the corner. She grounds Bayley with a rear chinlock.
Bayley gets up and starts to turn things around, then takes a spin kick that puts her back down. Bayley does finally manage to make a comeback with a bulldog and a suplex. Peyton hits a chinbreaker, but Bayley hits a Bayley-to-belly for the win.
Result: Bayley wins via pinfall after a Bayley-to-Belly suplex
Time: 4:07
** Not a bad match. Peyton Royce looked good. Her strikes looked strong, and other than her tendency to pose too much (which fits her character so I understand why) she was very solid. Bayley barely had any offense, but that’s how she wrestles, so it makes sense for her character too. Lots of character in this match. Good stuff, even if it was short. **
Ring Area
Nia Jax and Eva Marie hit the stage. Eva starts to talk, but Nia Jax takes the mic away from her. She tells Bayley she’s lucky. Lucky that Jax didn’t get to NXT sooner or Bayley would have never been champ.
Backstage
Crews asks Balor if he’s ready for tonight. He then puts Balor’s belt on his shoulder. Balor doesn’t seem amused.
Video
Video package of Sami Zayn answering John Cena’s US Title challenge. He will return.
Match 5
Apollo Crews & Finn Balor (NXT Champ) vs Baron Corbin & Samoa Joe
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Balor starts, and Joe tags out immediately. Mind games. Crews tags in and Corbin tags out. Mind games. Crews hits a high standing dropkick on Joe, sending him to think about it in the corner.
-commercial-
Joe and Corbin are in control of Crews after the break. Balor gets the tag and overwhelms Joe. Balor gets a 2 count on Joe that Corbin breaks up. Corbin and Crews fight on the outside while Balor continues to press his advantage. Balor climbs to the top but is pushed off by Corbin, right into Joe’s grasp. Joe puts on the Coquina Clutch for the win.
Result: Samoa Joe causes Finn Balor to pass out with the Coquina Clutch
Time: 6:47
** A good match and a nice way to build up the main event of Takeover. Everyone looked good and it put the emphasis on the right things, like the fact that Joe can beat the champ if he gets him in the Coquina Clutch. **
Show Impressions
With one less match on the show than the previous week, they were able to make these a little longer (mostly) and put on some pretty good matches. There were still squashes, but a few a show is fine. And this was a good final show before Takeover.
Match of the Night
The Hype Bros vs Blake & Murphy
The last three matches on the show were good, but I think this one had the biggest interest for me. It was a solid match with good back and forth, and they didn’t have to play it too safe as far as building people up for the big show coming up.