January 27, 2016
Episode 318
(taped January 7, 2016)
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Intro Video
“Roar of the Crowd” by CFO$
Match 1
American Alpha (Jason Jordan & Chad Gable) vs Blake & Murphy w/ Alexa Bliss
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Gable pins Blake after Grand Amplitude
Time: 7:24
Match Thoughts
Good match, though very one-sided. It was practically an exhibition for Jordan and Gable. They’re very good, and they know it. It was a clinic until Blake & Murphy used some cheap (and obvious) heel tactics to take advantage: a fake injury, cheap shots, and outside interference. Even when they took over though, it only felt like a matter of time before Jordan and Gable would take control back.
Backstage
Alex Reyes asks Emma about facing Carmella next week. Dana Brooke and Emma say that Carmella isn’t very good and points out who she’s lost too.
Video
A special look at Asuka.
Match 2
Nia Jax w/ Eva Marie vs Liv Morgan
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Nia Jax wins via pinfall after a standing leg drop
Time: 2:12
Match Thoughts
This was a squash match (literally). Kind of slow, and Jax basically just stood in the middle of the ring and did stuff while Morgan ran around a little then got caught. Not a great match.
Backstage
Carmella responds to Emma and Dana, Cass calls Dash and Dawson fluffy, and Enzo paces and says he didn’t have a merry Christmas.
Video
Creepy video of the Vaudevillains getting angry.
Match 3
Bull Dempsey vs Alex Riley
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Riley wins via pinfall with a jumping knee
Time: 2:04
Match Thoughts
Riley returns to action after having knee surgery and, as with most returns, he basically just ran through his opponent. Dempsey got a little offense in the middle of the match, but this was all Riley. The match was okay for what it was. Nothing too surprising or outstanding. An average return match.
Backstage
Alex Riley stands alone in a dark room. He’s upset because no one cares about his return (or him).
Match 4
Elias Samson vs John Skyler
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Samson wins via pinfall with a swinging neckbreaker
Time: 1:57
Match Thoughts
Another squash match. It was just Samson beating up Skyler. Not terribly impressive or entertaining. Samson likes to walk around very slowly and stare into the crowd.
Backstage
The Hype Bros discuss the new Vaudevillains videos. Ryder wishes Rawley would be quiet every once in a while. He also doesn’t wear Zubaz. Rawley tells Ryder he knows he’s lying because he watches Ryder while he sleeps.
Match 5
Triple Threat NXT Title Number One Contender Match
Baron Corbin vs Samoa Joe vs Sami Zayn
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: No winner is declared (Corbin tapped while in a Sharshooter [Zayn] and a crossface [Joe])
Time: 11:49 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. There were nice segments with all possible combinations of the competitors. There were some close calls and tense moments. The ending left things open-ended, but that can make for some interesting developments and is a good way to get people to want to tune in. While a single winner can’t be declared, there was definitely a clear loser.
Show Impressions
An okay show. The first and last matches were good, but the ones in the middle felt like filler. The middle three matches consisted of some build-up matches and a return match, none of which were particularly exciting or noteworthy. I liked the ending of the show though and am looking forward to where it leads. Realistically I see two options, but we’ll see what happens.
Match of the Night
Triple Threat NXT Title Number One Contender Match
The opening tag match was good, but it was pretty clear who the winner was going to be. The triple threat match was more competitive and had a fairly interesting finish.