August 10, 2016
Episode 348
(taped July 13, 2016)
#WWENXT
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Corey Graves
Ring Announcer: Greg Hamilton
Backstage
Moments ago, Bobby Roode thanked William Regal for his time.
Intro Video
“Roar of the Crowd” by CFO$
Ring Area
William Regal is set up for a contract signing. He welcomes Bayley and Asuka. Bayley talks about always being an underdog until she became champ at Brooklyn last year. She wasn’t ready when Asuka beat her in Dallas, but she’s ready now. Asuka tells Bayley that she doesn’t have what it takes, but that she respects her. She offers her hand to Bayley, but Bayley refuses to shake.
** Mean Bayley seems odd. If Asuka is trying to throw her off her game, I think it’s working. **
Match 1
The Authors of Pain w/ Paul Ellering vs Rob Ryzin & Adrian Nails
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Gzim Selmani pins Rob Ryzin after a double-team combination leg sweep and lariat
Time: 1:20
Match Thoughts
Utter squash, though I liked the tandem powerbombs where The Authors slammed their opponents into each other before slamming them into the mat.
Ring Area
The Authors go to attack Ryzin and Nails after the match, but TM61 runs out to make the save. It does not work out well for TM61.
Backstage
Andrea D’Marco asks Shinsuke Nakamura if he’s concerned about Joe. He isn’t.
Match 2
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs Angelo Dawkins
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Andrade “Cien” Almas wins via pinfall after a hammerlock DDT
Time: 2:21
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was pretty one-sided, but Almas looked pretty good. Like Graves said, he has a lot of movement.
Ring Area
While Almas is celebrating after the match, Bobby Roode heads to the ring. He congratulates Almas. Not on the win though. He congratulates Almas on getting a match with Roode at Takeover.
Backstage
Austin Aries tells William Regal that he wants a match at Takeover. He gives him one against No Way Jose.
Match 3
Billie Kay vs Liv Morgan
(referee: Shawn Bennett)
Result: Billie Kay wins via pinfall after a big boot
Time: 3:11
Match Thoughts
Not a great match. Billie Kay is okay, but Live Morgan isn’t very good.
Backstage
Regal tells Gargano and Ciampa that they have a tag title match at Takeover.
Video Promo
Ember Moon is coming.
Match 4
Tucker Knight & Patrick Clark vs Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Johnny Gargano pins Tucker Knight after a double-team kick and knee to the head
Time: 3:16
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Knight and Clark had some decent offense in the beginning, but once Ciampa and Gargano got rolling they showed why they are getting a title shot. They work very well together and make for an exciting team.
Backstage
Charly Caruso asks Mojo Rawley what his thoughts are before facing Samoa Joe. Rawley calls Joe fat.
Match 5
Mojo Rawley vs Samoa Joe (NXT Champ)
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Samoa Joe wins via submission with a Coquina Clutch
Time: 4:35
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. It was more competitive than it had a right to be, but in the end that helped make Joe look even better and more angry.
Ring Area
Joe puts the Coquina Clutch back on Rawley when Shinsuke Nakamura starts to head to the ring. Security runs past Nakamura and holds Joe back while Nakamura taunts and slaps him.
Show Impressions
Again, the wrestling was a little light, but I enjoyed the show. I like how things are developing for Takeover.
Match of the Night
Mojo Rawley vs Samoa Joe
This was the most competitive match on the show, and we got to see a different side of Rawley. Since it’s probably his last NXT match (at least for a while), it was a good one to go out on.