April 12, 2017
Episode 387
(taped April 5, 2017)
#WWENXT
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Ring Announcer: Dasha Fuentes
Intro Video
“Rage” by CFO$
Match 1
Aleister Black vs Corey Hollis
(referee: Darryl Sharma)
Result: Aleister Black wins via pinfall after Black Mass (spin kick)
Time: 0:28
Match Thoughts
This was just one move. Black stood and waited for Hollis to approach him, then hit him with his finisher. Match ends. The kick looked pretty good though, so there’s that.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton congratulates Tye Dillinger on his move to SmackDown. Dillinger says he has some unfinished business before he says goodbye to NXT, so next week he’ll face Eric Young in a steel cage.
Match 2
#DIY vs Dylan Miley & Michael Blais
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Johnny Gargano pins Michael Blais after Meeting in the Middle (tandem running knee smash and superkick)
Time: 2:59
Match Thoughts
This was actually pretty interesting. Dylan Miley started for his team, and being a huge guy, he dominated DIY. Pretty much completely. Blais, who is significantly smaller than Miley, wanted a tag while Gargano was reeling. So Blais comes in, and DIY quickly makes a comeback, double-teaming Blais and completely avoiding Miley. This was a clever way to make a squash not seem like a squash.
Ring Area
After the match, Miley seems frustrated. He enters the ring and takes out his frustrations on his tag team partner. Miley repeatedly slams Blais before storming off.
Video
Ember Moon failed to defeat Asuka at Takeover. Then, in an empty arena after the event, Ember Moon laments the fact that she lost and failed to capture her moment. She seems upset that Asuka pushed the ref into the ropes near the end of their match. Moon vows to be the next NXT Women’s Champ.
Match 3
Ruby Riot vs Kimberly Frankele
(referee: Tom Castor)
Result: Ruby Riot wins via pinfall after a wind-up overhead kick
Time: 2:20
Match Thoughts
This was an okay match. Frankele had a little bit of offense, but this was mostly Riot’s match. Nikki Cross showed up at ringside early in the match, but she didn’t interfere. She just watched. Nothing really special about the match, but it was fine.
Video
A highlight package/promo for the Authors of Pain.
Backstage
Earlier today, Billie Kay and Peyton Royce walked through the WWE Performance Center. They walked past Kassius Ohno and Norman Smiley and encountered Aliyah and Liv Morgan. Morgan pushed Kay into one of the baths, and everyone seemed to have a good laugh. Except for Billie Kay.
Match 4
Oney Lorcan vs Drew McIntyre
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Drew McIntyre wins via pinfall after a running single-leg dropkick
Time: 4:22 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
A good match and a great in-ring debut for McIntyre. The match wasn’t very long, but it was very hard-hitting. Both guys were throwing very strong-looking strikes, and Lorcan even got busted open towards the end of the match. McIntyre looked impressive, showing good power and strength (such as when he caught Lorcan on the floor from a top-rope dive and slammed him onto the apron).
Ring Area
After the match, Dasha Fuentes asks McIntyre what brings him to NXT. McIntyre says he’s worked hard over the last few years to build a reputation, and he doesn’t want to be anywhere except for NXT.
Ring Area
Shinsuke Nakamura heads to the ring. He talks about his arrival in NXT a year ago and of the things he’s learned. One thing he’s learned is that the NXT Universe is crazy. Nakamura will always be NXT. As Nakamura gets applause from the crowd, the locker room clears and applauds from the stage.
Show Impressions
This was an okay show. The main event was good and the tag match was surprisingly entertaining. This feels a lot like a transitional show, so not much really happened as far as stories go, but I think this episode is setting some of the groundwork for things to come.
Match of the Night
Oney Lorcan vs Drew McIntyre
Good match and a great debut. McIntyre definitely made a strong first impression.