April 26, 2017
Episode 389
(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$
Ring Area
Nikki Cross slides into the ring. She slides back out of the ring and uses Dasha’s mic to call out Ruby Riot. Ruby comes out, and both women slide into the ring. Nikki attacks Ruby, and the two brawl. They are eventually broken up by four referees and two security guards.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton asks Bobby Roode about Hideo Itami’s attack. Roode says Itami can challenge him all he wants, but if he wants a title shot he’ll have to earn it.
Match 1
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs Drew McIntyre
(referee: Eddie Orengo)
Result: Drew McIntyre wins via pinfall after a running single-leg dropkick
Time: 3:54
Match Thoughts
Good match. It wasn’t as hard-hitting as McIntyre’s match with Lorcan, but McIntyre still looked impressive. Almas started off with his arrogant tactics, but that just made McIntyre angry.
Backstage
William Regal announces that Nikki Cross and Ruby Riot will face each other in a match tonight.
Video
A special look at Roderick Strong. He visits his childhood home and talks about his troubled youth.
** This was a great and surprisingly personal segment. This kind of thing will do a lot for Strong and his character. I’ve always liked Strong, but he seemed kind of plain. This makes me care about his character a lot more. **
Match 2
Kona Reeves vs Aleister Black
(referee: Tom Castor)
Result: Aleister Black wins via pinfall after a Black Mass spin kick
Time: 1:17
Match Thoughts
Almost a squash. Reeves started by rushing Black and getting some strikes in, but Black quickly turned things around with strikes of his own.
Backstage
Christy St. Cloud welcomes Ruby Riot. Riot says that SAnitY is about rebelling against conformity, but they push everyone to conform to them. When Riot gets pushed, she pushes back. Tonight, she hopes to settle things with Nikki Cross.
Outside the Venue
Kayla Braxton attempts to ask Almas about his match with McIntyre, but Almas is more concerned with leaving with a car full of women.
Ring Area
Ruby Riot heads to the ring for her match, but Nikki Cross attacks her from behind on the ramp. They begin to brawl again. Riot hits Cross with a suplex on the ramp, and Cross slams Riot head-first into the side of the stage. Referees again have to come out and break up the fight.
Backstage
William Regal informs Asuka that next week there will be a battle royal to determine the number one contender for her title. Asuka doesn’t seem to care much.
Match 3
United Kingdom Title Match
Gentleman Jack Gallagher vs Tyler Bate (UK Champ)
(referee: Eddie Orengo; in the front row: Pete Dunne, Trent Seven, Wolfgang, Mark Andrews)
Result: Tyler Bate wins via pinfall after the Tyler Drive ’97 and retains the title
Time: 10:10 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Great match. As expected, this was a highly technical affair, but it also had its fair share of power moves. Gallagher and Bate worked very well together, and I wouldn’t have minded if this had been a lot, lot longer.
Show Impressions
This was a good show. The UK Title matches always make a show feel special, and the continuing story with Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross throughout this episode gave the whole episode a continuity that is sometimes missing from NXT. This was one of the better NXT episodes in a while.
Match of the Night
Jack Gallagher vs Tyler Bate
Another highly entertaining UK Title match. Easily the best match of the night, and probably the best NXT main event in a while.