February 22, 2017
Episode 379
(taped February 1, 2017)
#WWENXT
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
“In Memory of George ‘The Animal’ Steele 1937-2017”
Video
Tonight, Peyton Royce, Liv Morgan, and Ember Moon will battle to determine the number one contender for Asuka’s title.
Intro Video
“Roar of the Crowd” by CFO$
Match 1
Triple Threat NXT Women’s Title Number One Contender Match
Ember Moon vs Liv Morgan vs Peyton Royce w/ Billie Kay
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Peyton Royce pins Liv Morgan with a bridging fisherman suplex and becomes the number one contender for the NXT Women’s Title
Time: 8:20 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
An okay match. It was basically a one on one match between Royce and Morgan. Early in the match, Royce ran Ember Moon into the ring steps, and Moon was out of the match all the way until the near the end. It was good strategy on Royce’s part (she kept kicking Moon every time she tried to get into the ring), but it made the match less than it could have been. I also don’t think Moon was hurt bad enough to not be able to find a way into the ring or to be crawling like she could barely move when she did finally make it in. That part didn’t make sense, but I understand that to get Royce over, Moon couldn’t really be in the ring all that much.
Video
Profiles of Mark Andrews and Pete Dunne.
Video
Kassius Ohno is coming back to NXT.
Match 2
Mark Andrews vs Pete Dunne
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Pete Dunne wins via pinfall after a Bitter End
Time: 10:08 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Andrews has a few too many moves that requires a lot of help or some very specific circumstances in order to pull of, but he’s fun to watch. Dunne is also fun to watch, but I’d but his mean and nasty gimmick a little more if he beat people up a little more. Still, that’s kind of nitpicking. This was a fine match. It was fairly quiet for most of the duration, then the last few seconds exploded with a few big and flashy moves from both guys.
Backstage
Peyton Royce throws some facts at Kayla Braxton.
Video
A promo video for Patrick Clark.
WWE Performance Center
Kayla Braxton asks Tye Dillinger about SAnitY. Dillinger has Strong and Jose on his side now.
Match 3
No Way Jose vs Bobby Roode (NXT Champ)
(referee: Danilo Anfibio)
Result: Bobby Roode wins via pinfall after a Glorious DDT
Time: 7:04 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
An okay match. They started off with Roode trying to embarass Jose, and Jose coming back to embarrass Roode. The action in the match was fine, but it wasn’t very competitive. It was a little slow. Jose is fun, but this match didn’t help elevate him to the next level.
Ring Area
After the match, Roode puts Jose in a half crab. While he has the hold locked in, Kassius Ohno runs to the ring and chases Roode away. Roode asks Ohno who he thinks he is to interrupt the champ’s business. Ohno says that everyone knows who he is. He’s been here before, and he has some unfinished business.
Roode says they can have a title match right now. He gets back into the ring and tells Ohno to remove his jacket. As Ohno turns around, Roode attacks him from behind. Roode beats on Ohno until Ohno manages to turn the tide. He fights back and forces Roode out of the ring.
Show Impressions
This was an okay show. The matches could have been better, but the return of Kassius Ohno, thought it wasn’t a surprise, was a nice way to end the show.
Match of the Night
Mark Andrews vs Pete Dunne
I got a little nit-picky with this one, but it was easily the most fun to watch.