May 31, 2017
Episode 395
(taped May 25, 2017)
#WWENXT
City: Winter Park, FL
Venue: Full Sail University
Commentary: Tom Phillips, Nigel McGuinness, Percy Watson
Ring Announcer: Mike Rome
Intro Video
“Rage” by CFO$
Ring Area
Tommaso Ciampa heads to the ring on crutches. Ciampa invites Gargano to the ring before “remembering” that he’s not here tonight. Ciampa then talks about an injury he sustained just prior to Takeover and the talk of replacing him in the tag match on the show. He’s apparently angry about feeling like people would easily replace him.
He goes on to say that he felt himself get injured on the Takeover Title match, but he put the pain aside so he could keep fighting for the crowd and his partner. Ciampa says that after DIY lost, he knew Gargano would immediately replace him. So he made a decision, a decision to make Gargano go away for a long time just like Ciampa will. And when Ciampa returns, he will be the most dangerous person in NXT.
Video
A promo package for Danny Burch.
Outside the Arena
Earlier today, Bobby Roode says he needs a glorious championship celebration, and he’ll have one when he returns next week.
Match 1
Danny Burch vs Pete Dunne (UK Champ)
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Pete Dunne wins via pinfall after a Bitter End
Time: 7:03 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. Burch seemed to beat Dunne at his own game in this match. Not that Burch fought dirty, but he was extremely aggressive and managed to get the better of Dunne with strikes for a good part of the match. Dunne looked frustrated and a little like he couldn’t really get going for at least half of this bout (in character of course). It was a great showing for Burch, though in the end Dunne still looked like the better of the two. If only barely.
Ring Area
After the match, Pete Dunne gets on the mic and says he’s had to watch a “boy” carry the UK Title since January. But Dunne took his rightful title at Takeover.
Backstage
Kayla Braxton welcomes Velveteen Dream. Dream doesn’t like the ambiance in the room, so he decides to go fix it.
Video
Paul Ellering reads from “The Book of Pain” and talks about the Authors of Pain. He says the Book of Pain has been shut and the Book of Dominance has been opened.
Match 2
Andrade “Cien” Almas vs Cesar Bononi
(referee: Tom Castor)
Result: Cesar Bononi wins via pinfall with a small package
Time: 3:05
Match Thoughts
An okay match. The finish was entertaining and there were some good strikes thrown by Almas, but the overall action wasn’t great.
WWE Performance Center
Earlier today, Peyton Royce and Billie Kay attempt to make a video when Ember Moon walks by. Moon has been cleared to return to action. Royce and Kay don’t seem to like that.
Outside the Arena
Earlier today, Hideo Itami and Kassius Ohno shook hands in the parking lot.
Match 3
Eric Young & Alexander Wolfe w/ Killian Dain vs Kassius Ohno & Roderick Strong
(referee: Drake Wuertz)
Result: Roderick Strong pins Eric Young after a release suplex into a double-knee backbreaker
Time: 9:33 (1 break)
Match Thoughts
Good match. It went back and forth for a while before Ohno got isolated for an extended period. Strong got the hot tag but the numbers of SAnitY were starting to catch up to Strong and Ohno before No Way Jose ran out to even the odds. I liked the action in this one, especially Strong’s flurry of offense late in the match.
Show Impressions
This was a pretty good show. It had good matches and some decent story development (even if there wasn’t a lot of it).
Match of the Night
SAnitY vs Kassius Ohno & Roderick Strong
The UK match was good, but I think this tag match had a little more substance.